A jury returned a mixed result in the case surrounding an Orlando police officer who used his Taser gun on a man strapped to a hospital gurney.
Officer Peter Linnenkamp was found not guilty on one count of battery, which charged that he jumped on a suspect's chest, but a mistrial was declared on the charge involving a Taser gun, WESH 2 News reported.
Last March, Antonio Wheeler was arrested by officers on drug charges and taken to Florida Hospital after he said he'd swallowed crack cocaine. But he refused to let the hospital withdraw urine for a drug test, so Linnenkamp climbed on his chest and used a Taser gun twice, shocking Wheeler with 50,000 volts of electricity.
"I did what I did to protect the staff, and save Mr. Wheeler's life. I'm very glad that no permanent harm came to him because of this," Linnenkamp said after the verdicts were read.
The jury's decisions infuriated Wheeler's family, who said the officer was out of control.
"It's just not right for you to jump on top of somebody like that and pin somebody down," said Von Johnson, Wheeler's mother.
The jury returned the not guilty decision after less than three hours of deliberations, but jury members were having trouble with the second count, which focused on whether Linnenkamp's use of a Taser gun was legal. The judge sent the jury back to deliberate further on the charge.
"He jumped on top of me and went to press in both knees, his body weight, onto my chest and my stomach. You know, I already got Tased. I was crying, you know, 'It hurts,'" Wheeler said in court on Thursday.
Linnenkamp and other officers who arrested Wheeler said he resisted violently. That testimony was supported by a Florida Hospital employee.
Linnenkamp's new trial on one count of battery involving the Taser is set for June.
Regardless of the verdict in this case, Linnenkamp will be investigated by the police department for possible dismissal, lesser punishment or no punishment.
Linnenkamp remains on full pay and on duty but not on the streets. Wheeler is due in court in a couple of weeks on the charges stemming from his arrest a year ago.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Greg Fox .
Copyright 2006 by WESH.COM. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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