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WEBVTT THEY SAID THE JURY DIDTHE RIGHT THING AFTER LOOKING ATTHE EVIDENCE AND APPLYING THELAW.IT TOOK THE JURY ABOUT FIVE ANDA HALF HOURS OF DELIBERATIONDEFINED MASSACHUSETTS STATETROOPER JOSEPH FLYNN NOT GUILTYOF ASSAULTING A MAN LAST YEAR AFTER A HIGH SPEEDCHASE THROUGH TWO STATES THAT ENDED IN NASHUA.>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE JURYAND IT WAS A JUST VERDICT UNDER THE FACTS OF THECASE.REPORTER: POLICE PURSUED RICHARDSIMONE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR UNTIL HE WAS CORNERED ON ADEAD END STREET.NEWS HELICOPTERS CAPTURED THEARREST ON VIDEO THAT SHOWS FLYNNTHROW SEVERAL PUNCHES, BUT ONLYAFTER FORMER NEW HAMPSHIRE STATETROOPER ANDREW MONACO TAKES THE FIRST SWING.MONACO PLEADED GUILTY TO ASSAULTAND IS NO LONGER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.FLYNN TESTIFIED AT TRIAL ANDSAID HE WAS SIMPLY REACTING TO A DANGEROUS, HIGHINTENSITY SITUATION AND USED THE FORCE HEFELT WAS NECESSARY TO TAKE SIMONE INTOCUSTODY.>> JOE FLYNN WAS PUT IN APOSITION THAT NONE OF US WILL LIKELY SEE IN OUR LIFETIMESAND HE MADE A DECISION IN A SPLIT SECOND ANDHIS GOAL WAS TO PUT CUFFS ON MR. SIMONE AND THAT'SWHAT THE JURY CONCLUDED AND I THINK IT'S THERIGHT CONCLUSION.REPORTER: PROSECUTORS ARGUEDTHAT SIMONE WAS ON HIS KNEES SURRENDERING WHEN THEPOLICE SWARMED IN, BUT ADDED THEY ARE NOTDISAPPOINTED WITH THE VERDICT.>> I ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEJURY'S DECISION BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WE TRUST TOREVIEW THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE AND APPLY THELAW AND ONCE THEY HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION,THAT IS FINAL.REPORTER: FLYNN HAS BEENSUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY SINCE HEWAS INDICTED AND DECLINED TOCOMMENT AFTER THE VERDICT READTHE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICESAID THEY WILL SCHEDULE AHEARING TO TALK ABOUT HIS

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The jury has reached its verdict in the trial of a Massachusetts state trooper accused of assaulting a suspect during an arrest in Nashua.Joseph Flynn was found not guilty on two counts of simple assault on Thursday. The charges against him were felonies because he is a police officer.>> Download the FREE WMUR appClosing arguments were made by both sides Wednesday morning. The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon.Video from news helicopters showed former New Hampshire State Trooper Andrew Monaco throwing the first punch against Richard Simone last year after a chase that crossed state lines. Monaco pleaded guilty to assault and is no longer working in law enforcement.Flynn, who was the only defense witness in the case, jumped in after Monaco threw the first punch. He testified Tuesday that it was the first time in his career that he had ever punched someone in order to take them into custody.Flynn said he threw what he called “submission blows,” and he did what he had to do in order to protect the public and other officers at the scene.It took the jury about 5 1/2 hours of deliberation to reach their verdict.Defense lawyers say the jury did the right thing after looking at all the evidence and applying the law.“I’m very grateful to the jury, and it was a just verdict under the law and under the facts of this case,” defense attorney Ronald Caron said.“Joe Flynn was put in a position that none of us will likely see in our lifetimes, and he made a decision in a split second, and his goal was to put cuffs to Mr. Simone, and that's what the jury concluded, and I think it's the right decision,” he said.Prosecutors argued that Simone was on his knees surrendering when the police swarmed in, but added they are not disappointed with the verdict.“I always agree with the jury's decision, because they are the people we trust to review the facts and the evidence and apply the law and once they've made their decision it's final,” Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell said.Flynn has been suspended without pay since he was indicted and declined comment after the verdict. Massachusetts State Police said they will schedule a hearing to talk about his employment in light of the verdict.