Officer charged with hitting handcuffed man in face

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) - A Connecticut police officer has been charged with hitting a handcuffed man in the face as he sat in the back of a cruiser.

The state’s Division of Criminal Justice announced that New London police Officer Deana Nott was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor assault charge.

Nott is accused of striking the man in June 2016 after he struggled with officers trying to place him in a cruiser. The man had been involved in a fight and was later convicted of assault.

New London police investigated and suspended Nott for seven days. Police Chief Peter Reichard told The Day he could not comment on the criminal charge.

Nott’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Nott is a 17-year department veteran.

___

Information from: The Day, http://www.theday.com