Jury splits verdict on trial of PG County officers

A jury has found a Prince George's County police officer guilty of second-degree assault in the beating of an unarmed University of Maryland student two-and-a-half years ago.

 

Late Friday night, the jury found Corporal James Harrison guilty of the assault charge. But jurors cleared Harrison of misconduct. Fellow Corporal Reginald Baker not guilty of assault and misconduct.

 

The two officers were charged with assaulting then-student John McKenna during a rowdy student celebration that followed the Maryland basketball team's win over Duke in March 2010. The beating was captured on video. A judge had dismissed first-degree assault charges against the officers. 

 

Prosecutors argued that the officers abused their power when they struck McKenna with batons. Defense lawyers said their clients were trying to control a riot.