WDAM - Channel 7 - Serving Hattiesburg, Laurel and the Pine BeltGrand jury decides not to indict officers
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Associated Press - December 17, 2009 8:44 AM ET
PETAL, Miss. (AP) - Court officials say a grand jury has decided not to indict two Petal police officers accused of using excessive force during a traffic stop.
Frederick Russell said he was stopped by police for a seat belt violation in June and was arrested for disorderly conduct after asking why he was pulled over.
Cassie Myers, Russell's girlfriend, said she saw the officers hit Russell on his legs with their batons and use pepper spray on him.
District Attorney Jon Mark Weathers told the Hattiesburg American on Wednesday the case against the unidentified officers was presented to the grand jury last week.
Petal Assistant Police Chief Matthew Hiatt said the entire force was happy to hear the news of no indictments.
Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com
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