South Carolina Trooper Acquitted on Charges of Excessive Force Motivated by Racism
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A white South Carolina trooper has been acquitted of violating the civil rights of a black man who was struck by the officer's cruiser.
A federal jury returned the verdict Friday after a four-day trial that hinged in large part on a video from Lance Cpl. Steven Garren's patrol car.
The tape shows Marvin Grant running in front of Garren's cruiser after a brief car chase ended in June 2007. Grant is struck and flips over the hood of the patrol car. Garren later bragged on the tape that he deliberately hit Grant.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Garren was charged with using unreasonable force that deprived Grant of his civil rights. The officer could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he had been convicted.