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A pair of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were found not guilty of felony battery and several other charges Friday that stemmed from allegations they used excessive force during a protest that followed the death of George Floyd.
The criminal charges against officers Jonathan Horlock and Nathanial Schauwecker came after they were accused of using excessive force during the protest in May 2020.
A grand jury indicted Horlock and Schauwecker in 2020.
Horlock was found not guilty of two felony battery charges, a felony perjury charge and a felony obstruction of justice charge, according to court records.
Schauwecker was found not guilty on two felony battery charges, a misdemeanor battery charge and felony official misconduct.
“We greatly appreciate the hard work of the Jury in carefully reviewing the totality of the circumstances. These not guilty verdicts signify that law enforcement officers can properly rely upon their training and knowledge of the law. Our clients were doing their best that night to protect a City that was under attack. Although it can often make sense to re-examine and update policies and procedures, the men and women of our police departments need our steadfast support,” John Kautzman and Andrew Duncan, attorneys for Horlock and Schauwecker, wrote in a joint statement.
According to the Associated Press, after more than 10 hours of deliberation, the jury found the officers not guilty of four of the charges they faced. The jury could not reach verdicts on one charge of battery and one charge of official misconduct, local news outlets reported.
Horlock, along with Schauwecker were charged for hitting two protesters with their batons during the protests in downtown Indianapolis.
The two protesters, Ivoré Westfield and Rachel Harding, were recorded being arrested while officers used batons and pepper balls to subdue them.
According to the Associated Press, WISH-TV recorded the arrest showing Westfield being struck by two officers with their batons until she fell to the ground and then was pinned face-down by a baton at the back of her neck.
The women weren’t charged with any crime. They have filed a federal lawsuit against Horlock, Schauwecker and two other officers that is pending, according to the Associated Press.
The cases are State of Indiana v. Jonathan Horlock, 49D32-2008-F5-025144 and State of Indiana v. Nathaniel Schauwecker, 49D32-2008-F5-025151.
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