First published at 06:40 UTC on May 23rd, 2022.
Bald, Muscle Steroid Cop, Shirt Three Sizes Too Small, Gun, Gov Protection, Badge, Power and NO Accountability -- WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
------------COP WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY HOW CAN THAT BE WITH THIS VIDEO?-----------
Former St. Johns County deputy f…
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Bald, Muscle Steroid Cop, Shirt Three Sizes Too Small, Gun, Gov Protection, Badge, Power and NO Accountability -- WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
------------COP WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY HOW CAN THAT BE WITH THIS VIDEO?-----------
Former St. Johns County deputy found not guilty on aggravated battery charges
Deleo was facing charges for an incident during a 2019 traffic stop. He had been accused of brutally beating an unarmed naked man.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former St. Johns County Sheriff's Deputy who was charged in connection with an incident during a 2019 traffic stop has been found not guilty.
A jury Wednesday found Anthony Deleo not guilty on charges of aggravated battery. He had been accused of brutally beating an unarmed naked man with a baton.
Judge Smith gave the jury instructions on how to proceed with the deliberation around 11:30 a.m. They returned the verdict shortly after 2:30 p.m.
Responding to the jury verdict this afternoon, State Attorney R.J. Larizza commented:
"We take no pleasure in prosecuting a veteran Law Enforcement Officer for excessive use of force, but based on the circumstances, we believed it was the appropriate thing to do. The jury worked hard to reach a verdict in a difficult case, and we respect and appreciate their efforts."
The jury was finalized Monday and heard opening arguments at least until Wednesday.
Deleo was a St. Johns County sheriff's deputy at the time, assisting a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper. The man who was pulled over was 30-year-old Christopher Butler.
Deleo was fired that following January, and the St. Johns County Sheriff Office filed charges against him for aggravated battery.
A warrant affidavit states Deleo was assisting a Florida Highway Patrol trooper with a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to yield around 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 29, in the Winn Dixie shopping center at 2220 County Road 210.
Deleo approached the vehicle and tried to pull Butler from the car, according to the warrant.
The warrant says once ..
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