HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A since-fired central Pennsylvania police officer is on trial on charges he punched and kicked an unruly, intoxicated man who was already restrained by other officers.
The trial for former Altoona officer Mark Sprouse opened Wednesday in Blair County.
The 30-year-old defendant is charged with simple assault and official oppression charges stemming from the February 2015 arrest of 31-year-old Allen Mowery.
Mowery has acknowledged he was “mouthy, drunk and arrogant” but testified he wasn’t fighting with officers trying to put him in a holding cell after he was arrested for an earlier fight with police.
Another Altoona officer testified Wednesday that he saw Sprouse kick Mowery while he was down. Sprouse took the stand and denied that.
The trial was to continue Thursday.
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