Campbell and Zeiner

A jury found Adam Campbell, left, guilty of misdemeanor assault. Michael Zeiner, right, was found not guilty.

(Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An Akron police officer was found guilty Thursday of misdemeanor assault in the beating of a man at Playhouse Square, while a jury cleared his co-defendant, a West Salem police officer.

Prosecutors had sought a felony assault conviction for Akron officer Adam Campbell, 29, but the jury opted for the misdemeanor. They found his co-defendant, West Salem officer Michael Zeiner, 34, not guilty of felonious assault in the case, concluding that he was acting in self-defense.

Campbell and Zeiner were indicted for a March 29 altercation outside the Wyndam Cleveland at Playhouse Square. Steven Crupp, the victim, said he suffered six broken ribs and a fractured hip from an attack by Campbell outside the hotel's front door on Euclid Avenue. Zeiner was also charged with beating Crupp.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Russo is scheduled to sentence Campbell on May 16.

Donald Malarcik, Campbell's attorney, did not immediately return a phone call.

Joseph Patituce, Zeiner's attorney, said the 12-member jury "did a phenomenal job" with the case. He said the evidence clearly showed that his client was not part of a fight between Campbell and Crupp and that Zeiner was only trying to protect himself.

Patituce has said that Zeiner went outside and tried to subdue Crupp, and Crupp responded by throwing some blood that was in his palms at Zeiner.

Joe Frolik, a spokesman for the county Prosecutor's Office, declined to comment.

Crupp told cleveland.com in April 2015 he had met friends for some drinks at the hotel bar after attending an NCAA Midwest Regional Final game.

According to Crupp, Campbell had attempted to hit on one of the women he was with, but left after another woman made a joke about the police officer. Crupp said Campbell and two other men attacked him after he left the bar shortly after midnight.

Malarcik has previously stated that Campbell was acting in self-defense after Crupp initiated the fight, and that Campbell used a "reasonable" amount of force.