Hate crime suspect arrested, accused of assaulting transgender people in Atlanta: Police
A man who is allegedly responsible for multiple assaults on transgender individuals within Atlanta, Georgia, has been arrested, police said.
Michael Boykin, 28, was identified as a hate crime suspect, the Atlanta Police Department wrote in an X post shared on Friday. At the time of Boykin's arrest, police said "he was believed to be armed and dangerous," according to the department.
Boykin has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police said.
Body camera footage shows Michael Boykin's arrest
Attached to the X post is police body camera footage of Boykin's arrest, which shows officers confronting the man. When they locate Boykin, one of the officers exits the patrol vehicle and shouts, "Show me your (expletive) hands, get on the ground."
As the man is on the ground and being put in handcuffs, the officer whose body camera footage is shown says, "Mr. Boykin I've been looking for you." As Boykin is being taken into the jail, a separate officer is heard saying, "I hope your parents are proud of you."
Police learned about Boykin's whereabouts after receiving a tip, Fox News reported.
More than 55,000 people identify as transgender and gender non-conforming in the state of Georgia, according to TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, a Black Trans-Led non-profit organization.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.