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Georgia Bureau Investigation officers who detained Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael, the two men recently sentenced to life in prison for killing Ahmaud Arbery, said they were “shocked” and “surprised” at being arrested.
The Atlanta-based new station, WSB-TV, interviewed 20 GBI detectives who delivered justice to Arbery’s family after three white men gunned down the 25-year-old jogger in a suburban neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020, of Brunswick, Georgia.
Each officer described the events leading up to the father and son’s arrest and their reaction after being told there were warrants for their arrests.
After a video of the 25-year-old’s killing was leaked to a local news station, the statewide agency started the investigation on May 5, 2020, and arrested the suspected killers on May 7, The Atlanta Black Star reported.
Richard Dial, the GBI’s Kingsland office supervisor, said, “When we pulled up on the McMichael residence, we encountered Greg. He was out front.” He was accompanied by several officers who helped with the arrests.
Jason Seacrist from the GBI’s Douglas office recounted the 65-year-old’s reaction as “surprised.” But, the officer said, “I really think that he thought he was going to get through this without any consequences.”
“To see Cyrus’ large truck pull up and four agents initially jump out in tact-gear and to be told he was under arrest … to be handcuffed …” he added. “I think he was shocked and didn’t know how to respond.”
Dial continued, “We quickly took him into custody. Found out from him that Travis McMichael, who we also had a warrant for, was in the backyard of the residence.”
Officer Cyrus Purdimon, a Black detective for the GBI, captured the 35-year-old shortly after his father was detained.
“He was in the back on the fishing dock,” he said. “We made contact with him as well in front of his mom.”
Dial recalled getting the son, “Myself and Cyrus proceeded to the back. He was also surprised. He was very cooperative but very surprised.”
Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley issued three life sentences for Gregory, Travis and William “Roddie” Bryan for the 25-year-old’s murder, News Onyx reported.
Though the three men were sentenced on state charges, they’re also facing charges regarding the killing in an upcoming federal trial.