Webster police officer cleared of official oppression

A Webster police accused of using excessive force during a 2013 arrest was found not guilty Tuesday morning, officials said.

After a two-and-a-half day trial in the Harris County 339th District court , a jury acquitted Colin Murphy of official oppression, officials with the Harris County District Attorney's Office said.

Murphy and two other Webster police officers were accused of hitting, kicking and stomping a man allegedly wielding a gun outside a home in Nassau Bay on September 27, 2013.

While the officers claimed the man was suicidal and pointed a gun toward them, authorities said the alleged beating occurred after the man had surrendered and dropped the gun. Murphy and the other two officers Peter Behler and Daniel Bassett, were incited on charges of official oppression.

All three officers were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The jury spent about four hours in deliberations before reaching a verdict in Murphy's case.

Court records show that Behler's trial is set for Sept. 15 and Bassett's trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 20.