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Federal Jury Indicts Former Hickory Sergeant For Excessive Force, Obstruction Of Justice

CATAWBA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

A federal grand jury has indicted a former Hickory Police Department sergeant on charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice, according to a statement released Monday by the United States Department of Justice.

The indictment alleges that Robert George, 45, assaulted a female victim while arresting her in November 2013. According to the indictment, George slammed the female – Chelsea Doolittle, identified in the indictment as “C.D.” — face-first to the ground and injured her. George then covered up the incident by writing a false police report, the indictment alleges. 

According to previous reporting by the Hickory Record, another police officer had reportedly asked Doolittle, who was 24 at the time, for her vehicle registration. The newspaper said the incident turned confrontational and the officer called for back-up. George was one of the officers who responded. George reportedly pulled Doolittle from the car and pushed her to the ground, where she sustained injuries to her mouth that required oral surgery, the newspaper said

Doolittle was initially charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, but those charges were eventually dropped. 

George was fired from the Hickory Police Department in January 2014 and was indicted on felony assault charges.

George was arraigned on the newest charges in federal court. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by the DOJ. 

Jessa O’Connor was an assistant digital news editor and Sunday reporter for WFAE.