SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Salt Lake City police officer who shoved and knocked over a man who was walking with a cane during a protest will not face criminal charges to respect the victim’s wishes, prosecutors said Friday.
Officer Val Brown was captured on video pushing a man to the ground during a June protest in downtown Salt Lake City.
District Attorney Sim Gill called Brown’s actions “unnecessary” and “inappropriate” but said the victim did not support filing criminal charges and would prefer that Brown’s misconduct be addressed through disciplinary action from his employer. Gill said his office would have filed charges if the victim was in favor.
“This was not an easy decision…We have determined to respect the victim’s wishes,” Gill wrote in a statement. “We hope Salt Lake City will do the same in deciding what additional training and discipline may be appropriate to fully and fairly address Officer Brown’s actions.”
Last week, the Salt Lake City civilian review board determined that Brown used improper force during the altercation.
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Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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