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Two deputies plead not guilty in videotaped San Francisco beating
Source: Reuters
World | Thu May 26, 2016 8:38pm EDT
Two deputies plead not guilty in videotaped San Francisco beating
SAN FRANCISCO | BY CURTIS SKINNER
Two San Francisco-area sheriff's deputies pleaded not guilty on Thursday to felony assault charges stemming from the brutal beating of a suspect last year that was captured on video.
There has been a growing cry over police use of excessive force after the killings of several unarmed suspects, which have triggered protests across the country over the past two years. San Francisco's own police chief stepped down last week after months of mounting protest over police shootings and a scandal over racist text messages by police officers.
The two Alameda County Sheriff's deputies charged in the videotaped beating, Luis Santamaria and Paul Wieber, both pleaded not guilty to assault under color of authority, assault with a deadly weapon, and battery with serious bodily injury in the arrest of Stanislav Petrov, San Francisco District Attorney's Office spokesman Max Szabo said.
Attorneys for the men could not be immediately reached for comment.
Michael Rains, an attorney for Santamaria, told the San Francisco Chronicle after the hearing: "Police use of force is disturbing. ... That doesn't make it illegal, and that's the difference. The fact of the matter is use of force may well be lawful, and often it is."
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Two deputies plead not guilty in videotaped San Francisco beating
SAN FRANCISCO | BY CURTIS SKINNER
Two San Francisco-area sheriff's deputies pleaded not guilty on Thursday to felony assault charges stemming from the brutal beating of a suspect last year that was captured on video.
There has been a growing cry over police use of excessive force after the killings of several unarmed suspects, which have triggered protests across the country over the past two years. San Francisco's own police chief stepped down last week after months of mounting protest over police shootings and a scandal over racist text messages by police officers.
The two Alameda County Sheriff's deputies charged in the videotaped beating, Luis Santamaria and Paul Wieber, both pleaded not guilty to assault under color of authority, assault with a deadly weapon, and battery with serious bodily injury in the arrest of Stanislav Petrov, San Francisco District Attorney's Office spokesman Max Szabo said.
Attorneys for the men could not be immediately reached for comment.
Michael Rains, an attorney for Santamaria, told the San Francisco Chronicle after the hearing: "Police use of force is disturbing. ... That doesn't make it illegal, and that's the difference. The fact of the matter is use of force may well be lawful, and often it is."
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sanfrancisco-police-idUSKCN0YI01H
