RICHMOND — In response to University of Virginia student Martese Johnson’s bloody arrest in March and aggressive tactics used against another student two years ago, lawmakers say changes are likely to be considered this winter on the role of the state’s alcohol control agents.
State Senate leaders told reporters Thursday that they expect some action in the General Assembly session that begins in January regarding agents for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
“I do anticipate that there will be efforts to restrict the ability of ABC law enforcement personnel to engage in certain types of arrest activities,” said Democratic caucus leader Donald McEachin.
Republican caucus co-chair Ryan McDougle agreed.
“ABC law enforcement really needs to focus on what is their core role, and I personally do not think their core role is writing individuals under the age of 21 possession of alcohol tickets,” he says.
“There are some things that they can do to make sure that the communities are safer in the criminal direction, but straight possession of alcohol or drunk in public tickets are not the best and highest use of those limited resources,” McDougle adds.
“Hashtag common ground,” McEachin responded.
That common ground could be tougher to find on other issues this session with a potential standoff over Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s reintroduction of a plan to expand Medicaid.
The agents who arrested Johnson were cleared of wrongdoing. The 20-year-old’s arrest was caught on cellphone video. Charges were later dropped, and he is now suing the ABC.
A state commission convened after the arrest recommended that the agency maintain its arrest powers.
Two years ago, agents mistook the sparkling water that University of Virginia student Elizabeth Daly was carrying for alcohol. Agents swarmed her car and tried to slam her windshield. She drove off out of fear she was being carjacked. She eventually settled a lawsuit against the agency for $212,500.
McDougle says efforts to privatize the Department of Alcoholic and Beverage Control are not likely to come up again this year.
