23 October 2011
Two police officers who were filmed throwing a man from his wheelchair onto the sidewalk will not face charges, it has been revealed.
Dwight Harris was left with a pool of blood coming from his head and needing stitches after he was pulled from his wheelchair by Metro transit police officers in Washington DC in May.
The horrific incident led to outrage after a video captured by a passer-by was posted on YouTube.
But the Justice Department yesterday announced that the two police officer, who have not been named, will not face any federal criminal civil rights charges.
‘Accident, mistake, fear, negligence or bad judgment are not sufficient to establish such a criminal violation,’ spokesman Xochiti Hinojosa told the Washington Post.
The police had claimed that Harris had ‘refused to comply’ to a police citation and resisted arrest after he was accused of drinking alcohol in public and assaulting a police officer, although both charges have been dropped.
Metro had said that Harris’ action had ‘resulted in him falling out of his wheelchair’.
Both police officers were put on administrative duty after the incident was reported, they will now return to their jobs.
The incident happened at U Street Metro station in Northwest Washington on May 19.
Warning: Video contains explicit language
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2052585/Police-officers-video-throwing-man-wheelchair-sidewalk-NOT-face-charges.html#ixzz58Q2iEo00