City review clears Lithonia chief of choking allegation

LITHONIA, Ga. (AP) A city investigation has cleared Lithonia's police chief of allegations he choked a handcuffed teenager.

WXIA-TV reports that council members approved the city administrator's report exonerating Chief Roosevelt Smith on Monday night.

A dissenting council member called the findings conflicting, but the panel decided to clear Smith on a 3-2 vote.

Smith was under review for allegedly using excessive force and choking a 17-year-old during a burglary arrest. The teenager has filed a claim over the incident, and his attorney says the council's action isn't surprising.

An attorney for the chief, Careton Matthews, says the council decision is a just outcome.