‘I feel betrayed’: Mother of man beaten during traffic stop outraged at not guilty verdict

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A assemblage connected Wednesday recovered a erstwhile St. Johns County lawman not blameworthy of aggravated artillery successful transportation to the beating of a man during a 2019 postulation stop.

Prosecutors argued that Anthony DeLeo went excessively acold by striking Christopher Butler with his fist and a baton during the incidental that was partially captured connected video by a witness. But the defence said DeLeo was utilizing his baton successful a mode that is allowed by Sheriff’s Office policies and helium did not intentionally wounded Butler.

UNCUT CELLPHONE VIDEOS (caution, immoderate viewers whitethorn find these videos disturbing): Part 1 | Part 2

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The incidental hap successful December 2019 erstwhile Butler was pulled implicit for driving nether the power aft a low-speed pursuit connected Interstate 95. DeLeo was fired and charged with second-degree aggravated artillery successful March 2020.

Butler’s mother, Teri Morgenstern, says this video speaks for itself and the lawsuit should person ended with a blameworthy verdict.

“I person nary Idea what happened today. None. I consciousness betrayed by the tribunal system. I consciousness betrayed by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Just betrayal each the mode astir the board,” she said.

“We got nothing,” Morgenstern said of the verdict. “Not adjacent elemental artillery from this assemblage successful St. Johns County.”

Terry Shoemaker, Deleo’s attorney, says this video is not an close portrayal his clients usage of unit connected Butler.

“The argumentation says you tin usage that to get compliance. And if you look astatine the video, it’s pushed unneurotic by the media and shows him continuously striking, striking, striking,” Shoemaker said. “But, erstwhile you look astatine the full video and everything that took place, determination were strikes, stops past trying to get compliance. No compliance. Strike, halt and effort to get compliance.”

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News4Jax transgression and information adept Ken Jefferson says helium believes the assemblage was not swayed by the video due to the fact that of what the video is lacking.

“It appears to me, based connected the video that I looked astatine implicit and implicit and implicit again, it’s obstructed,” Jefferson said. “I can’t spot what the fishy is doing, lone what the serviceman is doing.”

Attorney John Phillips, who volition beryllium representing Butler successful an upcoming civilian case, issued a connection to News4Jax pursuing the verdict.

“This is simply a disappointing result,” Phillips said. “The video of the incidental proves otherwise. Until we arsenic a society, and wrong instrumentality enforcement agencies, clasp reckless instrumentality enforcement afloat accountable, civilian rights are successful jeopardy.”

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