New bodycam footage shows Houston County traffic stop, contradicting mother, son’s claims of excessive force

Newly-released bodycam video shows March 2025 traffic stop in Houston County, contradicting claims of excessive force by an Atlanta mother and her son.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — New body camera footage from a March 2025 traffic stop shows deputies acted appropriately, contradicting claims made by an Atlanta mother and her son, who were recently convicted.

Juana Shantail Ash, 42, and her son, Omar Kinte Wright, 22, were sentenced to three years of probation and 48 hours in jail after a jury found them guilty of making false statements to investigators. Wright was also convicted of misdemeanor obstruction of officers.

The video shows deputies repeatedly instructing Wright, a front-seat passenger, to exit the vehicle. He struggled to comply while speaking with his mother over FaceTime, saying, “For what?” and “Woah, woah, let me drop my phone. “After, deputies then asked him again to get out the car. 

Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards said deputies initially pulled the car over after noticing it traveling slowly in the left lane.

“Once they made the stop, deputies smelled an odor that led them to believe the car possibly contained contraband,” Edwards said.

Ash and Wright had made several allegations about the stop. They claimed deputies:

“But when investigators reviewed the video, it didn’t support that story,” Edwards said.

Assistant District Attorney Greg Winters said the footage told a very different story.

“He’s asked multiple times if he wants to go to the hospital and he says no each and every time,” Winters said.

During the struggle, Wright’s cousins also in the vehicle expressed concerns about his medical condition and asked officers to check on him. The video shows Wright was alert and responsive, and EMS did arrive on scene.

Edwards said his office works to ensure accountability.

“If there is ever any sort of legitimate complaint to be filed against law enforcement officers in this jurisdiction, this office, the District Attorney’s Office, but not only us, the sheriff is going to want to know about it,” he said.

“The initial stop was routine. The other passengers cooperated, but Wright was struggling,” Winters said. This clearly shows the difference between perception and reality when reviewing bodycam footage.”

Ash and Wright are spending 48 hours in the Houston County Jail and were sentenced to probation after their convictions for making false statements.