‘Nightmare no cop wants to go through’: Ex-deputy found not guilty of battery in traffic stop speaks out

3 years ago 385

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A erstwhile St. Johns County lawman who was recovered not blameworthy of aggravated artillery successful transportation to the beating of a antheral during a 2019 postulation halt says helium could ne'er spell backmost to instrumentality enforcement.

Anthony DeLeo was accused of utilizing excessive unit against a antheral who was pulled implicit for driving nether the power aft a low-speed pursuit connected Interstate 95.

Prosecutors argued helium went excessively acold by striking Christopher Butler with his fist and baton, but the defence said DeLeo utilized his baton successful a mode that’s permitted by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office’s policies and that helium didn’t intentionally wounded Butler. DeLeo was fired from the Sheriff’s Office aft videos of the incidental surfaced.

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“Go from leader to zero conscionable similar that,” DeLeo told News4Jax. “One time I’m a bull and I’m loved and I’m proud. And the adjacent time they made maine a criminal. I’m not a criminal. I’m exonerated, vindicated and I person been acquitted of immoderate wrongdoing.”

DeLeo added, “I went from 26 years of exceptional exemplary constabulary service, ne'er been disciplined once, to each of a abrupt defending yourself and actions from 1 night, being judged and played successful the media. It’s a nightmare nary bull wants to spell through.”

During cross-examination, Butler admitted helium took much than the recommended dose of acold medicine successful bid to get precocious earlier getting down the wheel, but said helium ne'er resisted arrest.

DeLeo said Butler repeatedly resisted 73 commands to surrender and was combative.

“This was a 5 to 7 infinitesimal combat that went connected with a feline who was admittedly precocious connected cough medicine,” DeLeo said.

The video shows DeLeo hitting Butler with a baton portion helium is down.

“He spot my spouse successful the arm. He’s got a immense wound mark. He kept fighting. He kicked me,” DeLeo said.

Butler during cross-examination denied biting oregon warring the deputy.

The kick, DeLeo said, injured him due to the fact that it was a footwear to his near limb that had conscionable been reconstructed aft a motorcycle accident. But DeLeo was besides accused of kicking Butler successful the caput portion helium was down.

“His caput was astatine my loop line. My limb ne'er came up came up past a 45-degree angle. It conscionable wasn’t determination and convey God the assemblage saw this,” DeLeo said.

When asked if DeLeo would see going backmost to instrumentality enforcement, it appears not.

“I loved being a cop. It was my identity. I loved it,” helium said. “After this happened, I travel to recognize the occupation I love, this agency, the mode they handled it near specified a atrocious sensation successful my rima that I could ne'er spell backmost to this profession.”

The transgression lawsuit against DeLeo is over, but attorneys for Butler are readying to record a civilian suit against him since Butler says helium was earnestly injured during that arrest.

“Absolutely prepared,” DeLeo said. “The video speaks for itself. Upstanding citizens of St. Johns County saw it that way. I’m prepared to explicate everything I did.”

The erstwhile lawman told News4Jax his lad precocious became an officer, and DeLeo said helium worries for him.

“I interest for each young constabulary officers,” helium said. “It’s a antithetic world. Respect is not there.”

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