By The Associated Press
A White Maryland police officer has been convicted of assault and misconduct after being accused of repeatedly punching a Black suspect who was handcuffed and seat-belted in a police vehicle.
The state’s attorney for Prince George’s County says a judge found Cpl. Stephen Downey guilty Aug. 8 after a three-day bench trial.
Prince George’s County police officer Cpl. Stephen Downey (Prince Georges County Police photo)
Downey faces up to 10 years in prison on the assault charge when sentenced in October.
Downey was one of several officers who responded to call at a CVS pharmacy in Temple Hills in October 2018.
Authorities say he punched Andre Verdier in the face several times after Verdier complained that his handcuffs were too tight.
Prosecutors dropped a burglary charge against Verdier a month later.