The Justice Department says a former sheriff’s deputy in central Kentucky has been convicted in federal court of violating the civil rights of people he arrested by using unnecessary force and obstructing justice because he tried to cover up his actions.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Abbott punched a driver in the face during a traffic stop in January 2021 because the man asked to speak to his supervisor, and then pulled the man out of the car and struck him several more times, the statement said. When a passenger pleaded with Abbott to stop, the deputy struck the passenger in the face with an elbow and broke his glasses.
The following month, Abbott arrested the passenger of a car and punched him in the face without justification, and conspired with another officer to write a report saying the man had approached Abbott aggressively before being struck, the statement said.
The deputy also searched a hotel room without a warrant that March and then wrote a report falsely saying the guest had given consent, the agency said.
And that April, Abbott punched a handcuffed man in the face when he posed no threat following a vehicle pursuit, authorities said.
when a civilian is charged, they throw the fucking book at them. dozens of charges.... this guy beats the shit out of multiple people and not one assault charge?!
These are federal charges. The local prosecutors probably declined to charge him for assault after the Sheriff's department cleared him of all wrong doing.
There are cases where assault is a federal crime but unfortunately he will get off the hook for these crimes if the locals let him slide, which they usually do for cops.
I’m curious to see what happens when “cop attacking innocent person” collides with innocent person’s “stand your ground” gun laws if they’re fearing for their life.