Judge Finds Cop Not Guilty of Assault after Refusing to Watch Video of Assault

A St. Louis cop is caught on video, slamming his forearm across the face of a handcuffed teenage suspect.

Rory Bruce not only gets fired for the incident that took place last year, but ended up charged with assault - something you rarely see happen.

However, when Bruce stepped in front of the judge to be tried this week, the judge refused to watch the video that came from a surveillance camera from the back of a police transport vehicle.

As a result, Judge Theresa Counts Burke found him not guilty.

Judge Burke refused to tell KMOV-TV why she did not want to watch the strongest piece of evidence in the case against the former cop.

But the head of the police union, Jeff Roorda, who is also a Missouri state representative, fully agreed with her decision not to view the video because he believes videos should only be used to protect police, not hold them accountable.

Roorda is now going to help Bruce get his job back.

According to KMOV-TV:

In an emailed statement, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce said the office was disappointed that the judge didn’t see this video—adding that the video clearly shows Bruce beating a handcuffed teen.

Judge Teresa Counts Burke didn’t return calls for comment.

Roorda says the judge did right—he told News 4, police videos like these should be used to protect police.

Now, it’s become a “gotcha-head hunter” tool that we’ve seen internal affairs go over-board with.

Roorda says—with his name clear in the courts—Bruce should get his job back. We’ll stay on it to see if he does.

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