Post updated at 5:04 p.m.: Revised to reflect additional testimony.

Prosecutors said a fired Dallas police officer was reckless and deceptive after fatally striking a fleeing bicyclist with his squad car in 2013.

But the officer's defense attorney said the former cop was just trying to protect a neighborhood from drug deals when he chased down the man in his squad car four years ago.

Bryan Burgess has also been indicted on a manslaughter charge. (Dallas County Jail)

Bryan Burgess, 31, is on trial, accused of criminally negligent homicide in the death of 51-year-old Fred Bradford Jr.

Burgess is accused of hitting Bradford with his patrol car while chasing him on April 21, 2013, in South Dallas.

Burgess then moved his car, Bradford and his bike after the collision, authorities said.

Bradford suffered broken ribs, a fractured clavicle and several breaks in his back. He died of internal injuries May 13, 2013.

Prosecutor Jorge Solis said Wednesday that Burgess acted dangerously when he drove his patrol car off the street onto wet grass to chase Bradford. And after the crash, Burgess lied to paramedics and police supervisors about what happened, Solis said.

But defense attorney Robert L. Rogers said Burgess was just doing his job as an officer when he spotted Bradford riding a bike at night, without a helmet or lights on, a city ordinance violation. Then the officer saw the man appear to reach into a parked car to buy or sell drugs.

Burgess and Officer Michael Puckett said they saw the suspicious activity in the 1600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

"They have a duty to protect the people in that area of Dallas to try and suppress drug dealing," Rogers said during opening statements.

Both officers chased Bradford — Puckett on foot and Burgess in the squad car.

The pair followed Bradford along the Interstate 45 service road, and Burgess told investigators that Bradford turned in front of his squad car.

Dallas police traffic investigator Brett Binford testified that he did not find Burgess to be criminally negligent in the crash and said the crash was caused by Bradford making an unsafe turn and fleeing from police.

Puckett and Burgess were fired in August 2013 by former Police Chief David Brown. Burgess was arrested shortly after on the criminally negligent homicide charge.

Brown said an internal investigation revealed that the officers waited eight minutes after the crash before calling for help. The men also didn't tell paramedics that Bradford was hit by the squad car.

Puckett testified Wednesday that after he and Burgess saw Bradford reach into a car, they turned on their lights. Puckett got out of the squad car and ordered Bradford to stop, but he fled on his bike.

Puckett chased after him on foot, and Burgess followed in the squad car. The chase lasted about a quarter-mile. Puckett wasn't nearby when Burgess collided with Bradford, and wasn't sure where his partner had gone.

"I did not have my radio on," Puckett said. "It was dumb luck I found him."

He said Bradford was cussing and in handcuffs when Puckett caught up to them. Burgess moved the car off the grassy median and onto the street.

Families of men whose deaths were blamed on Dallas police held a news conference at Dallas City Hall in January 2016. Among them was Virginia Bradford (right) holding a photo of her son Fred Bradford. (Naomi Martin/Staff)

The officers called the paramedics after Bradford asked for an ambulance.

When paramedics arrived, Bradford was still handcuffed and face down on the ground. His blood pressure was low and he wasn't able to breathe into his left lung. His breathing rattled, the paramedics testified Wednesday.

Puckett now works as a paramedic in Tyler. He and Burgess were in the same police academy class in 2009 and remain friends.

"It's hard to be here today," Puckett said.

Neither officer called police dispatch to say they were pursuing a suspect before the crash. Bradford didn't have any drugs on him when he was handcuffed. And Puckett testified that he got caught up in the moment when he decided to chase Bradford instead of stopping the driver that he and his partner suspected of selling drugs.

Their former supervisor, Sgt. Russell Sanchez, testified that the officers hadn't followed procedure on a prior call they responded to. They hadn't "cleared" the call before moving on.

Sanchez said the officers were "well within policy for the foot pursuit" of Bradford. But he took a more measured response on whether the car chase fit into Dallas Police Department policy.

The Dallas City Council voted in November 2013 to pay more than $1 million in a settlement to Bradford's mother, Virginia Bradford, who filed a lawsuit the month after her son's death.

If convicted, Burgess could face up to 10 years in jail. He is requesting probation.