Teen, falsely accused of stealing bike, takes stand in trial of CPD officer pinning him down

The now-former officer is on trial, facing felony charges of misconduct and aggravated battery. CBS 2's Sabrina Franza was in court.

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[peggyesquibel]

He needs to be charged just like anyone else would be under the same circumstance. A badge does not clear you of any wrongdoing! The kid was probably scared to death!

[justinenicole]

Proud of his friends for protecting him and taking a stand against this monster. Brave boys.

[wrxsubaru]

Assault and battery, false imprisonment, abuse of a minor, defamation, and many other charges is what he should be charged with.

[jamesjennings-ydbc]

If it weren't for his friends that boy may have been even more hurt.

[royaldiadem_]

Imagine being falsely accused, then imagine being aggressively pinned to the ground, then imagine being made a spectacle of in front of a crowd. This cop definitely needs jail time. FN Ridiculous

[jeffreybryan]

He should be charged as a civilian since he was not on duty...

[savinaking]

He wasn't justified in the way he acted, because he needed proof first.
Without proof he could be stopping EVERY BIKE that looks like his son's bike.

[petermclelland]

Stop using violence as a first resort.

[waynesellers]

WOW... the FORMER officer testified it was OK for him to question the teenager the way he did! The video shows the teen face down on the ground, with his arms pinned behind him and the off-duty officers knee in his back!!!

[Grimeyknowledge]

It’s a lot of Angry People with badges

[ryanfleming]

As soon as I hear “a judge not a jury” will decide this case I knew it would be a not guilty verdict. Googled it and sure enough… not guilty.
We investigated ourselves and found no wrong doing. 🤦‍♂️

[randyb]

When you hear bench trial just know the judge is part of the con game. That's exactly why so many disgraced criminal officers choose a judge over a jury, or don't mind federal charges. They'll either be acquitted outright (duh, your friends from the bench) or given slaps-on-the-wrist for even the most heinous crimes.

[penni]

Because the off duty "cop" thought this young man had stolen "his" son's bike, this makes it more of an issue emotionally. You don't pin someone down over a bicycle. Thankfully nothing physical or worse happened to this boy. It certainly could have...over a bicycle.

[alliekingsley]

Can't believe this bastard didn't go to jail for this, they had it on VIDEO. He obviously did what he was accused of. Motherfking judges need to be held to account when they do this.

[idontlikeit.]

What caused the officer to act the way he did? Poor training and a lifetime of being self deluded

[jborn]

Terrible. The kid will remember this violation for his entire life. PTSD.

[PacoSmith]

Glad to see the youth's family is seeking to hold that (former) cop accountable.

[stickshaker]

I love how they used the "I feared for my life" line against the cops for a change.

[petesmith]

Once again…another example of the worst law enforcement system in the developed world

[cleanupkyle]

And, of course, the wildly corrupt judge ruled that the piggy did nothing wrong and acquitted him of all charges because we live in a police state