| | D.C. officer pleads guilty to unprovoked assault on protester
A police officer for Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault on a protester he beat in the face with a riot stick nearly four nears ago.
An 18-year member of the Metropolitan Police Department, Christopher Huxoll could face up to 10 years in prison for his altercation with a demonstrator during the 2005 Inauguration of President Bush.
According to a press release, Huxoll threw the protester to the ground, lifted up his head and hit him across the face with his baton, leaving him bruised and bloody.
"Most law enforcement officers serve our Nation bravely, but in
instances where they not only fail to uphold the law, but willfully
break it, the Justice Department will not hesitate to vigorously
prosecute," said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General
for the Civil Rights Division.
Huxoll said he believed the protester had thrown bottles at him and his fellow officers while policing an unauthorized protest march where there had been reports of vandalism.
But Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said whatever he believed, Huxoll crossed the line.
"All law enforcement officers have a duty to protect," said , "Mr. Huxoll's actions are reprehensible and completely contradictory to what my department stands
for. His behavior does nothing but taint the phenomenal work done every
day by officers who serve our city with distinction."
Huxoll's sentencing is set for March 6.
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