An Orlando police officer accused of battery charges in the 2005 arrest of a combative, paranoid-schizophrenic transient was acquitted Friday by an Orange Circuit Court jury.
Patrolman Edward Michael, a six-year veteran, was found not guilty of aggravated battery and felony battery charges after a six-member jury deliberated for 2 1/2 hours.
Michael quietly wept after the verdict was read in court. He embraced his wife and attorneys, then briskly walked from the courthouse surrounded by a dozen fellow officers. He would not comment.
“I think it’s a just verdict. Obviously, the system works,” said David Bigney, one of Michael’s attorneys. “It’s just unfortunate we had to go through this the past 20 months.”
Read More in the Orlando Sentinel.