The jury in the trial of Buffalo Police Officer Corey Krug was dismissed Tuesday, after reaching a partial verdict. But as WBFO's Chris Caya reports, Krug's legal troubles may not be over yet.
Krug was accused by three men of using excessive force while he was on duty. The jury spent nearly eight days deliberating and found him not guilty on three counts. They were deadlocked on the fourth count.
A video of the 2014 incident, on Chippewa Street, showed Krug using his nightstick on Devin Ford who claimed he was assaulted without cause. Krug was represented by Attorney Terry Connors.
"I said a number of years ago when this first occurred that we think that the video actually helps us because the video shows how that individual grabbed the baton, grabbed the impact weapon, and how it put him in a struggle that he had to prevail," Connors said.
The defense was covered by the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. Its President John Evans says he never thought prosecutors had a strong case against Krug. But Evans is concerned about how it may impact police officers.
"It seems to me that any force is now deemed to be excessive, right? I mean judging from the accusations made against Corey throughout this it makes you not want to ever use any force. You know - put yourself through this, federal court, over going to work one day. It's not good in my opinion," Evans said.
In a written statement following the verdict, U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said federal prosecutors accept the jury's verdict and will be seeking an immediate retrial of Krug on count four.