DENVER—A jury has acquitted a Denver police officer accused of assaulting a teenager.
Charles Porter was charged with first-degree assault on allegations that he seriously injured 16-year-old Juan Vasquez by jumping on the teen’s back following a foot chase in April 2008.
Porter declined to comment Thursday, but his lawyer, Nathan Chambers, said they were pleased with the verdict and that the “prosecution’s case had some serious holes.”
Vasquez, who police say was in possession of drugs, was hospitalized with a lacerated liver, injured kidneys and broken ribs after his arrest April 18.
Two other officers who participated in the chase said Porter jumped on the teen’s back as he lay handcuffed on his stomach. But Porter testified that he lagged behind the other officers and didn’t see what happened.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
