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07/25/2007: ""Racist" beating was caused by suspect, not "racist" cop"

A former police officer accused in the videotaped beating of a man in the French Quarter after Hurricane Katrina was acquitted Tuesday by a judge who heard the case without a jury.

"I didn't even find this a close call," said District Judge Frank Marullo. "This event could have ended at any time if the man had put his hands behind his back," the judge said.

Davis testified Tuesday that he was headed to buy cigarettes in the French Quarter when he asked a police officer what time a curfew took effect that night. Before the officer could answer, a different officer cut him off, Davis said. His assailant uttered a racial epithet during the attack, he said.

[ Multiculturalism failing again. One officer's life was ruined by the accusations. It won't end until the races separate. ]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4996369.html