NYC jury acquits Atlanta Hawks' Sefolosha in police fracas

Sports

NYC jury acquits Atlanta Hawks’ Sefolosha in police fracas

It took just 90 minutes for a jury to acquit Atlanta Hawks wing Thabo Sefolosha of all charges stemming from a struggle with police outside a New York City nightclub that left him with a broken leg and ended his NBA season. Sefolosha was charged with misdemeanor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in an incident following the stabbing of then Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland outside the 1OAK nightclub this past April. He appeared to tear up when he heard the verdict and was later seen shaking hands with some of the jurors as he left court.

Prosecutors had offered Sefolosha a plea deal of no more than one day community service if he pleaded guilty. But he rejected it, wanting to prove his innocence. He had faced a maximum 1-year prison term if convicted. The case is the second this year involving high-profile black athletes accusing NYPD officers of wrongdoing. On Wednesday, the city agency charged with investigating police misconduct substantiated claims by former tennis pro James Blake that an officer used excessive force in taking him to the ground and wrongly arresting him last month.