UVA student Martese Johnson 'shocked' by violent arrest, vows to fight charges

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WLS) -- After University of Virginia student Martese Johnson was injured during an altercation outside a bar in Charlottesville, Virginia State Police are now investigating his arrest. Johnson and his lawyer said Thursday afternoon he was "shocked" by way he was slammed to the sidewalk.

The trouble began after Johnson, of Chicago, was turned away at the front door of an Irish pub in Charlottesville, Va., because he is underage.

He showed an Illinois state ID that lists him as only 20 years old. State alcohol agents conducting routine bar checks confronted Johnson, who tried to pull a cell phone from his pocket, according to witnesses. They told investigators that one officer grabbed Johnson's arm while another tackled him.

"At no time throughout the encounter did Martese present, as has been reported by some in the media, a fake ID. Nevertheless, Virginia ABC officers who were present on the scene questioned by client about being in possession of fake ID," said Daniel Watkins, Johnson's attorney.

Johnson stood by his attorney at a news conference Thursday afternoon. The student from Chicago is now at the center of the latest racially-charged incident getting national attention and vigorous support from fellow UVA students, who are still protesting the incident.

Johnson's lawyer read a statement from his client: "I'm shocked that my face was slammed into the brick pavement just across the street from where I attend school. Three officers then pinned me to the ground, pressing their knees in my back while blood flowed freely from the gash to my head. As officers held me down, one thought raced through my mind: how could this happen?"

Here is how police say it happened. Their arrest report cited Johnson as "very agitated and belligerent" and suggesting that he was intoxicated, stating that he would be released on $1,500 bail "when sober."

But a top university official and Johnson's roommate say he was not legally drunk.

"When they took him down to the station and breathalyzed him, he blew a .02, which is not legal intoxication," said Joshua Kinlaw, Johnson's roommate. "So how then was he intoxicated?"

"Martese is a member of the UVA honor committee and has no criminal record whatsoever. Martese worked hard to ensure his bright future and we intend to fight the criminal charges against him with the utmost vigor," Watkins said.

Johnson and his lawyer say they met Thursday afternoon with Virginia State Police, who are conducting a brutality investigation at the request of Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Johnson and his mother - who flew in from Chicago today - also met with the University of Virginia president. According to the Johnson family attorney, UVA President Teresa Sullivan expressed remorse for what happened and offered her support.

Martese Johnson, 20. (Photo courtesy of the University of Virginia)