A robbery and murder suspect's

attorney Tuesday accused arresting officers of beating his client following

a high-speed chase in Fayetteville three weeks ago.

When he was taken into police

custody after leading police on a chase that ended in an deadly auto wreck,

murder suspect Melvin Mitchell was "viciously beaten" by officers,

claimed Mitchell's attorney, Dwight Thomas of Atlanta.

But Fayetteville police have

received no complaints that officers used excessive force, according to

police spokesperson Beverly Trainor. This particular claim is not being

investigated by the department, but it would be looked into if a complaint

were filed, Trainor added.

Thomas made the allegation

after a court hearing Tuesday morning for Melvin Mitchell and his twin

brother, Marvin Mitchell.

Both suspects face murder charges

in connection with the collision that claimed the life of Jason A. Trotman,

a Union City father of three who worked at Fayette Animal Clinic.

Officers are required to file

reports when force is used during the administration of their duties,

Trainor said. No such report was filed in connection with this case, she

added.

During the hearing, Fayetteville

Police Detective Bob Bautista said he was "not aware" that Melvin

Mitchell was beaten by police officers at the scene.

After the hearing, Thomas said

Melvin Mitchell was beaten by officers after he was apprehended near the

scene of the crash. He told media representatives to note the facial injuries

on a photo taken of Melvin Mitchell when he was admitted to the Fayette

County Jail.

Police allege that the Mitchells

wore masks when they entered the Ingles grocery store on Ga. Highway 92

South in the late evening hours of Sunday, March 31, and held employees

at gunpoint. A witness in the parking lot phoned in a description matching

the Mitchells' vehicle, which was pursued by police northward on Jimmy

Mayfield Avenue and North Jeff Davis Drive moments after suspects left

the area.

The Mitchells face charges

of murder, armed robbery and kidnapping. Melvin Mitchell is also charged

with a number of traffic offenses, including speeding and fleeing and

attempting to elude a police officer.

Police recovered the cash and

checks stolen in the robbery along with the masks used by the suspects,

all of which were found in the Mitchell's vehicle, along with the guns

used in the robbery, Bautista said. Those items were identified by store

employees as being used by the assailants who robbed the store, he added.

Bautista testified that police

believe the pair may have entered the store prior to the robbery and bought

several items. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is processing that

evidence for fingerprints, Bautista said.

Magistrate Court Judge Robert

Ruppenthal declined a request from defense attorneys to dismiss the murder

charges on a technicality. Ruppenthal bound the suspects over to Fayette

Superior Court.

Thomas said he planned to file

a request for a bond hearing soon. He also said he plans to look into

allegations that a police vehicle struck the Mitchells' Oldsmobile Alero

before it collided with Trotman's vehicle at the intersection of North

Jeff Davis Drive and Ga. Highway 85.

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