Former Hapeville Police Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tasing Handcuffed Detainee and Obstructing Justice

ATLANTA - Shevoy Brown, a former officer with the Hapeville, Georgia Police Department, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for using unreasonable force by repeatedly tasing a handcuffed detainee and then writing a false report to cover up his crime.

"Brown willfully violated our Constitution by abusing his power to violently and unnecessarily assault a man in his custody. He then made matters worse by writing a false report in a failed effort to obstruct any investigation of the matter," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Brown's misconduct was a violation of his oath and is an affront to our district's many honorable law enforcement officers who serve with great integrity."

"This sentence demonstrates that no one is above the law, including those entrusted to enforce it," said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "When a law enforcement officer abuses their authority and violates an individual's civil rights, the FBI will work to ensure they are held accountable."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other evidence presented during Brown's trial: On the evening of June 3, 2024, Hapeville Police Department officers arrested a man for trespassing at an apartment complex and transported him to police headquarters. The man was placed alone in a small holding cell and handcuffed to a stationary bench. Although the detainee posed no threat, Brown entered the cell twice and tased him at least six times, including in the genitals, without any legal justification. Brown stopped tasing the victim only after another officer intervened.

Brown's repeated tasing caused injury that required medical attention. After the victim was transported from police headquarters by ambulance, Brown wrote a false use of force report in an attempt to justify and minimize his actions. In the report, Brown stated that he tased the victim twice to gain compliance after the victim supposedly kicked the door and window to the holding cell. But the victim had stopped hitting the window before Brown entered the cell and had never kicked anything. Moreover, Brown omitted that he handcuffed the victim to a bench and then tased the victim four additional times.

Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced Shevoy Brown, 31, of Hampton, Georgia, to three years and one month in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Brown was convicted on February 26, 2026, following a jury trial.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.