Taped Beating Charges Dropped

(AP)  A Los Angeles judge has dropped an assault charge against a former Inglewood, California police officer, who was accused in the violent videotaped arrest of a teenager.

The dismissal came after a request from the prosecution and two hung juries in the case against Jeremy Morse. He won't be tried again. The judge says a unanimous jury verdict in the future isn't likely.

Morse, who's white, was captured on videotape slamming a handcuffed black teenager onto a police car and hitting him in the face at an Inglewood gas station. The arrest happened in 2002, and drew national attention.

Morse's attorneys say he acted appropriately with teen-ager Donovan Jackson, who they say had attacked Morse. Jackson has said he was confused and didn't understand what officers were doing when they approached his dad, who was parked in a car with expired license plate tags.