MIAMI (AP) — Five city police officers have been indicted by a grand jury — four on charges they severely beat a handcuffed suspect, a fifth for allegedly lying to investigators after fatally shooting a mentally ill man.
The indictments were handed down Thursday.
In the first case, officers Jesus Aguero, Jorge Garcia, Wilfredo Perez and Jorge Castello were charged with depriving Alexander Anazco of his civil rights for allegedly beating him after his arrest. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Anazco was arrested in February 1997 while driving a vehicle used by someone who had thrown a rock at one of the officers' cars, U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis said. Anazco suffered head and knee injuries that required medical treatment and had cigarette burns on his body, Lewis said.