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A white police officer in Colorado surprised in video shooting a gun at a black man who was collecting garbage in front of his home has resigned, officials said Thursday.
Boulder police officer, John Smyly, left the police force after an investigation revealed that he had violated the department's policy when he had pulled out his weapon and attempted to detain Zayd Atkinson, 26, in March, according to officials and a report from the internal police department.
"While the findings would likely have resulted in a possible suspension or dismissal, Agent Smyly resigned before the end of the disciplinary process," said a statement released Thursday by the city of Boulder.
An internal police report obtained by ABC News shows that Smyly's decision to try to detain Atkinson "was not supported by reasonable suspicions that Mr. Atkinson was committing, had committed or was about to commit.
Atkinson, a student at Naropa University in Boulder, was picking up garbage on March 1 in a terrace of his apartment when he was confronted with Smyley, who, according to police, was trying to determine if Atkinson was allowed to be on the property.
A video of a neighbor's trial posted online showed Smyley holding his weapon at the confrontation at 8:30 am with Atkinson, who was holding a bucket and a metal garbage clip.
Atkinson showed Smyly his school identity card and told him that he was living at the residence. But when the officer stopped him for further investigation, Atkinson got angry.
According to a statement by the police, Smyly radioed his interlocutor to make a backup copy, stating that Atkinson was "uncooperative and did not want to pose any blunt object".
A few minutes later, more police officers arrived at the scene, including at least one with a shotgun, the video says.
The officers finally left when they determined that Atkinson was perfectly entitled to be on the property.
The news of the incident spread throughout Boulder, prompting a large and angry crowd to attend a meeting of Boulder City Council, many of whom were present at the house, equipped with scrap metal collectors.
ABC News attempts to reach Smyley were unsuccessful.
In an interview last month on ABC, "Good Morning America," Atkinson called the meeting a "traumatic experience."
"I thought that once the firearm went out, it meant that he was going to try to kill me," Atkinson said. "It was a scary experience, I did not know what else to do, you know, fight with my voice and exercise my rights, which were completely violated."
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