3 Kentucky State Police troopers indicted in alleged excessive force cover-up
Two current Kentucky State Police troopers and one former trooper have been indicted on federal charges, alleging they used excessive force on a person they arrested before conspiring to cover up their actions and an illegal entry to a home, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Kentucky State Troopers 28-year-old Jeremy Elliotte and 32-year-old Michael L. Howell, along with 30-year-old former trooper Derreck Lovett, were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy and obstruction with the intention of omitting information about a possible act of federal offense, the Wednesday release said.
The three defendants face up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy and obstruction charges, according to the indictment. Elliotte and Lovett also face up to 10 years on charges they'd injured the person arrested and deprived them of their rights, and Elliotte faces one year on charges of an unjustified search of three people when entering a home without a reason.
Related:Kentucky judge accused of dozens of violations is temporarily suspended
Elliotte and Lovett were charged by a federal grand jury of "willfully depriving an arrestee of the right to be free from unreasonable force," the release said, while Elliotte was accused of depriving three people of their right to be free from unreasonable searches.. Howell had previously been indicted in June for conspiracy and obstruction, the release said, before being named in the superseding indictment.
According to the release, Elliotte and Lovett detained a person, without justification and used excessive force that injured that individual. It also said that Elliotte entered a home, which was occupied by three people, without a warrant or other legal justification.
The three defendants then "developed a cover story" to cover up that they injured the person arrested and why they injured him, the indictment alleges.
"While hoping the assault had not been recorded, the conspirators agreed upon a version that was as close as possible to what the recording would show, in case the assault had been recorded," the release said.
A date for their court appearance has not been established, according to the release, which did not include the identity of the person who had been arrested.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Emily Greenfield.
Others are reading:Abandoned at birth, Louisville lawyer climbs to the top, nailing million-dollar verdicts
More coverage:Author of Kentucky's abortion ban is making a partisan bid for Supreme Court seat
Reach Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez at abrinez@gannett.com; follow her on Twitter at @SoyAnaAlvarez
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky State Police troopers indicted on federal charges
