A District Heights police officer has been convicted of assault charges after shooting a handcuffed man in the back as he fled from the officer’s custody.
Johnnie Riley, an eight-year department veteran, who was also found guilty of using a gun in the commission of a crime and misconduct in office, is scheduled to be sentenced July 30.
Prosecutors said Kalvin Kyle, 27, was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of the shooting, which stemmed from a September 2012 traffic stop.
Riley had arrested Mr. Kyle after he was stopped on a stolen motorcycle in the 6200 block of Foster Street. Mr. Kyle was placed in the back of a police cruiser but escaped and was shot in the back as he fled.
A bullet struck Mr. Kyle as he ran away, paralyzing him from the chest down.
Judge Hassan Ali El-Amin dismissed an attempted first-degree murder charge against Riley, and the jury acquitted him of attempted second-degree murder.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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