Jury finds SC trooper not guilty of intentionally hitting suspect with squad car
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By Dan Schillinger
Published: October 3, 2008
By JIM DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - A jury has found a South Carolina trooper not guilty of intentionally striking a fleeing suspect with his patrol car. Prosecutors said Lance Cpl. Steven Garren deliberately hit suspect Marvin Grant with his cruiser. They showed jurors a video of the collision and the trooper bragging about the incident.
But defense attorneys convinced the jury the trooper could not avoid hitting Grant when he cut in front of the patrol car during the June 2007 chase. Defense lawyer Wally Fayssoux told the jury prosecutors were trying to show that Garren went from being a good officer to a monster in a split second.
Garren was charged with depriving a suspect of his civil rights by using unreasonable force. Garren is white; Grant is black. If convicted, Garren could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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