Jury Finds Use Of Force By Former Woodstock Officer Justified

WOODSTOCK, GA — District Attorney Shannon Wallace said on Feb. 12, a Grand Jury unanimously found that the use of force by former Woodstock Police Sgt. Randy Milligan was "justified and authorized under Georgia law."

The Grand Jury also unanimously recommended that the District Attorney’s Office take no further action regarding this matter. A summary of evidence and a report of the Grand Jury’s findings of facts from this review will be included in the general presentments that are returned at the end of this Grand Jury’s term of service this spring.

“In 2016 the Georgia Legislature enacted (Georgia law) to promote transparency in communities with regards to use of force incidents occurring between law enforcement officers and citizens," Wallace said. "As the District Attorney of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, I requested the January 2020 Grand Jury to conduct a review of the facts and circumstances that occurred at the Stars and Strikes Family Entertainment Center in Woodstock on April 6, 2019, and that led to the use of force against Calvin Taylor by former Woodstock Police Department Sgt. Randy Milligan."

The Grand Jury was given evidence from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, including the lead agent who conducted the criminal investigation and a toxicology expert, other Woodstock Police Department officers and former officers who were present during the incident, a tactical instructor from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, an employee of Stars and Strikes who witnessed the incident, and Randy Milligan, Wallace said in a press release.

Prior to this being presented, Calvin Taylor and his attorney were interviewed in the District Attorney’s Office and were additionally provided the opportunity to appear before the Grand Jury but Taylor declined.

“The Grand Jury conducted a thorough review of this matter," Wallace said. "Based on all of the known facts and circumstances in this matter and on the recommendation of the Grand Jury, the District Attorney’s Office does not intend to take any further action."

In April 2019, Milligan was working an extra duty job at Stars and Strikes, 10010 Highway 92 in Woodstock.

During the evening, Milligan was approached by a manager about a man who was reportedly unresponsive, a police release said. Milligan and the manager tried to wake the man, later identified as Calvin Jamel Taylor, 38, of Hollywood, Florida, but to no avail. After many attempts, Taylor awoke, and Milligan attempted to escort him outside so he could receive medical treatment from Woodstock Fire.

While taking Taylor outside, he became combative and disorderly, police said. Following a brief altercation, Milligan and other officers detained Taylor and placed him under arrest.

Taylor refused medical treatment on scene, but was later taken to a local hospital by officers to receive medical care where he was treated, released and booked into Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

Taylor was charged with:

• Simple battery on a public officer
• Obstruction or hindering law enforcement officers
• Public drunkenness
• Disorderly conduct

Following a routine review of the incident and use of force report, the department initiated an internal investigation, the release said. Milligan was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the internal investigation.

Milligan is a 13-year veteran of the department, was promoted to sergeant in 2013, and was assigned as supervisor of Special Operations Group.