Dotson and Vega testified Tuesday in the courtroom of Associate Circuit Judge Nicole Colbert Botchway. Dotson said she approached him in the street, cursed him and the police department, and wiped pepper spray from her arm onto the front of his white uniform shirt. Vega denied cursing anyone and said the chief initiated the contact, which she called unintentional.

The prosecution showed a 15-minute cellphone video taken by a police sergeant showing protesters shouting and cursing officers. It did not record the Dotson-Vega encounter. Police officers fired pepper spray at some protesters, including Vega.

About a dozen of her friends were in the courtroom for the verdict, watched closely by six sheriff’s deputies. There was no outburst, although two friends angrily left the room.

Afterward, Vega wept in the hallway as supporters took turns hugging her.

“All I have is my truth, and a broken system that I will continue to fight until it becomes truly just,” Vega said. “I chose to fight (in court) so that power be held accountable, but clearly accountability only goes to protesters, not police officers who use pepper spray or chiefs who lie on the stand.”