Buffalo police officers found not guilty in excessive force trial

A jury in Buffalo found two Buffalo Police officers not guilty of using excessive force on teenagers nearly a decade ago.

Raymond Krug and Joseph Wendel were accused of shooting one of the teens with a BB gun while that person was seated handcuffed in the police car.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. issued this statement on the case:

“We respect the jury’s verdict. As the guilty plea entered prior to trial by the Buffalo Police Department lieutenant on scene that night clearly establishes, the civil rights of the four young men arrested on May 31, 2009, were violated. Today’s verdict means that the jury concluded that Officers Raymond Krug and Joseph Wendel were not involved in those violations. In the end, this prosecution brought some measure of justice to all parties involved in the incident. That is how our system of justice is supposed to work.”

Wendel's defense attorney, Rodney Personius, issued this statement to 7 Eyewitness News:

"We commend the attentiveness and courage of the trial jury. They upheld their oath to fairly consider the evidence, devoid of outside influences, and reach a fair and just verdict. This was the absolutely the proper outcome."

The head of the Police Benevolent Association, John Evans, issued this statement to 7 Eyewitness News:

"They will be back in short order, they have been through s great deal. I expect they’ll be working within a week."

Have a news tip, question or comment?