ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A prosecutor has declined to bring felony charges against two St. Paul police officers after an arrest captured on video shows one of them kicking a man.
Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem said Thursday there was “insufficient proof” the officers used unreasonable force.
A YouTube video of the August arrest shows Officer Jesse Zilge kicking Eric Hightower as Hightower lay on the ground.
According to the Olmsted County attorney, Officer Matthew Gorans used chemical spray to subdue Hightower in the back of the squad car.
Zilge and Gorans were placed on paid administrative leave. They are back at work but not on patrol.
A St. Paul police spokesman declined comment, saying there is an internal investigation.
Ramsey County referred the case to Olmsted County to avoid a conflict of interest.
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