Ex-Bridgeport officer cleared in man's death

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A federal court jury has cleared a now-retired Bridgeport police officer of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a man doing a foot chase in 2005.

The U.S. District Court jury in Hartford determined Tuesday that Luis Batista didn't violate the constitutional rights of Raylyn George. The Connecticut Post reports that jurors believed a state police report and the defense claim that George fatally shot himself by accident while running away from Batista.

George's death sparked demonstrations and protests marches by minority activists who demanded that police be punished, after investigators initially believed George died in a police homicide.

Batista testified he did fire his gun at Batista. But state police determined that Batista's three shots missed and George's gun accidentally went off as he was climbing a fence.

___

Information from: Connecticut Post