Jury Exonerates Elk Grove Police Officer In 2011 Shooting
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A jury has exonerated an Elk Grove police officer who shot a suspect who was lying on the back seat of a police cruiser with his hands handcuffed behind his back.
The Sacramento Bee reports that on Wednesday the jury found Officer Paul Beckham was justified in shooting to kill John Hesselbein in January 2011.
Hesselbein suffered an injury to his left cheek that was not life-threatening.
Beckham testified that Hesslbein was trying to reach into his rear waistband and the officer says he was afraid Hesselbein was trying to retrieve a weapon.
Officers responded on Jan. 310, 2011 to Hesselbein's home in response to a domestic violence report by his wife. Hesselbein later pleaded no-contest to misdemeanor battery on his wife and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.