The Associated Press
CINCINNATI (AP) - A suburban police officer fired in May after he was accused of assaulting a teenager in his custody was acquitted of a misdemeanor assault charge.
A Hamilton County Municipal Court jury deliberated for an hour Tuesday before finding Todd Halusek innocent. Halusek, 33, who is trying to get his job back as a Forest Park police officer, said he was relieved by the verdict.
He was accused of assaulting the handcuffed teen, then 17, on March 25 at the Hamilton County Juvenile court’s detention unit. A video camera at the youth jail filmed the struggle. Prosecutors said Halusek put his arms around the teen, lifted him up and slammed him to the ground, pinning him down with his knee.
Halusek said he used only the force necessary to subdue the teen, whom Halusek had arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
On the way to the police department, the teen had barraged Halusek and other officers with profanity and derogatory comments, defense lawyer Merlyn Shiverdecker told jurors. The officer said he had called twice for help to get the teen under control.
Forest Park City Manager Ray Hodges approved the police chief’s recommendation to fire Halusek, a police officer with the city for six years.