West Virginia trooper indicted in excessive force case
Posted March 20, 2019 2:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A former West Virginia state trooper who was fired after an investigation into a traffic stop beating has been indicted in federal court.
A grand jury indicted 29-year-old Michael Kennedy of Morgantown on Wednesday on one count of deprivation of rights under colour of law — language used to describe crimes committed by police officers while on duty.
Kennedy and a fellow trooper were fired in January. State police reviewed dashcam video of the Nov. 19 incident after Gov. Jim Justice ordered an investigation into what he called the beating of a 16-year-old male suspect. Police say the white teen was involved in a crash with a sheriff’s department cruiser before the two troopers pursued him.
The indictment accuses Kennedy of using excessive force resulting in bodily injury.
It’s not immediately known whether Kennedy has an attorney.
The Associated Press
