First of 3 central Illinois police officers tried in videotaped beating found not guilty

A jury has acquitted one of three central Illinois police officers charged with beating and shocking a man with a stun gun after a 2008 car chase.

The jurors on Wednesday found Andrew Smith not guilty of beating Bryce Scott.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that the other two Peoria officers have yet to go to trial. All three were charged with official misconduct.

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The traffic stop that followed the chase was videotaped by a squad car camera. It showed Scott being kicked, punched and shocked by a stun gun. The tape didn’t show what Scott was doing at the time.

Prosecutors argued he was compliant and that officers didn’t need to use force.

Smith has been on unpaid leave since his March 2009 arrest.

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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com

Source: AP News

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