Charges dropped against police officer who punched a university professor during protest

What a crock!

Defence attorney Harry Black, convinced a jury in court as he ,succeeded in having charges against his client, a Toronto police officer, dropped. Toronto police officer Amar Katosh was accused of -- punching a university professor during an anti-poverty protest -- that was caught on tape.

"The video really doesn't show what you think it shows," Black said. The jury believed him and Katosh was acquitted of assault, obstruct justice and perjury.

On the videotape, the officer can be seen punching university professor Alex Levant at an anti-poverty protest in 2003. Initially it was the professor who was charged with punching constable Katosh and assaulting a female officer. But at that trial, Levant's lawyer surprised officer Katosh with the video clearly showing that his client was innocent. Lavant's charges were dropped and the officer was subsequently charged.

That's where defence attorney Harry Black comes into play. He convinced the jury that his client suffers from a disability that causes a sensation of pressure if he moves his arm a certain way. According to the attorney, that's what made him feel like he was punched in the chest, and that's the reason he punched back.

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Pa: Police officer caught on tape punching a handcuffed burglary suspect

2 people were arrested and a police officer was put on administrative leave without pay following an alleged burglary overnight in Braddock. The video shows the police officer punching a male suspect as the man is being led into a police vehicle early Tuesday morning.

Police said the man, who has not been identified yet, used a crowbar to break into a home through a rear window on Mills Avenue around 1:50 a.m. Police also arrested a woman identified as the man's girlfriend, who they said served as a lookout for him at the house. Neither of the suspects' names has been released yet, nor has the name of the officer who is seen in the video.

Braddock police have not commented about the video of the officer's punch. He is on leave pending an outside investigation. While he stopped short of defending the officer's actions, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman said it was his understanding that the suspect was threatening the officer and may have been trying to spit on him. "I'm certainly not going to excuse what is seen on tape, but I would ask everyone who views it to consider, perhaps, the context and maybe what had occurred up to that point," Fetterman said. "The officer is a human being just like the rest of us, and sometimes emotions can get the best of us."

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(And don't forget your ration of Wicked Thoughts for today)