FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A jury has been discharged in in the federal criminal trial of four Fresno police officers accused of using excessive force after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked on all charges.
The Fresno Bee reports that in the trial of Sgt. Michael Manfredi and former officers Christopher Coleman, Paul Van Dalen and Sean Plymale, the jury voted 9 to 3 to find the four not guilty of police brutality.
Authorities say the officers punched and kicked Rolando Celdon during an October 2005 domestic dispute call. Celdon also was bitten by a police dog and injured by a less-than-lethal shotgun.
All four were charged with falsifying an official report to obstruct justice. If convicted, each could have faced up to 20 years in prison.
It's unknown whether prosecutors will retry the case.
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