ATLANTA – Former Clayton County Police Department Officer Grant Kidd, Jr., has been arraigned after being charged for soliciting a bribe to dismiss pending criminal charges against two Clayton County defendants.
“A law enforcement officer who is allegedly looking to line his own pockets by obstructing justice undermines the dedication and hard work of his fellow officers as well as the community’s trust and respect for its police officers,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn.
“When a law enforcement officer strays from his sworn oath, as is alleged in our investigation and in the resulting federal grand jury indictment, it is extremely disheartening to us and others who work so hard within the criminal justice system and do so with integrity and commitment. Due to the vast potential harm that these cases can cause, the FBI will continue to dedicate significant resources toward investigating such matters involving allegations of public corruption involving police officers,” said J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office.
According to U. S. Attorney Horn, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Kidd was employed by the Clayton County Police Department (CCPD) as a patrol officer. In July 2015, Kidd allegedly used a friend to contact two Clayton County criminal defendants who were charged with theft and forgery. Kidd arranged to meet with the two defendants in a parking lot of a shopping center shortly after they were released from the Clayton County Jail. During a recorded conversation, Kidd allegedly assured the defendants that their charges would be “administratively dismissed” if they paid him $1,500. Kidd even offered a money back guarantee to the defendants if their criminal charges were not dismissed. After these allegations surfaced, Kidd resigned from the CCPD.
Grant Kidd, Jr., 52, of Hampton, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury May 11, 2016. He was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Brent Alan Gray is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.