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Criminal Defense

LAKEWOOD COPS ACQUITTED ON ALL ACCOUNTS

The jury rendered a verdict of not guilty for the three Lakewood police officers that were accused of assaulting a motorist and then covering up the incident.

Norman Hobbie and Ted Bertucio, who both represented Officer S, told the jury that the alleged victim refused to pull over after they identified themselves as police officers and that he had been drinking, was in possession of a knife and resisted when the officers tried to arrest him on a drunk driving charge. Norm and Ted won a critical ruling, which permitted the defense to cross-examine the alleged victim on his prior alcohol-related run-ins with police.

In his two-and-a-half hour closing statement, Norm pointed out the inconsistencies in the accounts that were given by two eyewitnesses that claimed they saw Officer S kick the alleged victim. He also cited testimony from the other officers present at the scene that the facial injuries of the alleged victim were caused when he his head as he was being taken out of his pick-up truck.

Finally, Norm told the jurors to be suspicious of the alleged victim’s motives in testifying because he had filed a legal notice that he planned to sue the Lakewood Police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in order to recover for his injuries.