HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- A Huntsville police officer has been convicted in federal court of beating a man during a December 2011 arrest and lying to try covering it up.
Multiple news outlets reported that Brett Russell was convicted Thursday night of violating a man's civil rights and obstruction of justice for lying about the incident. Russell was taken into custody after the verdict was read and is being held in the Morgan County jail.
Prosecutors have said Russell falsely reported that the suspect kicked and tried head butting officers while he was being taken to a patrol car. Prosecutors have said Russell punched the man and struck a blow to his body with his knee but left those details out of the incident report.
His attorneys argued the use of force was appropriate.