Seattle officer, accused of kicking cuffed man, acquitted

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle police officer accused of kicking a handcuffed man following an off-duty fight outside a bar has been acquitted of a fourth-degree assault charge. A Seattle Municipal Court jury returned the verdict Wednesday. The head kick delivered by Officer Garth Haynes was captured on the video of a police car responding to the December 2010 fight that began when Haynes confronted a woman he suspected of stealing his jacket and three men came to her aid. KIRO-TV reports (http://is.gd/BHjyPu ) an expert called by the defense said Haynes may have suffered a momentary diminished capacity from a blow to his head. The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild described the brawl as a hate crime. Haynes is black. Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes says he’s disappointed but respects the jury process.