Former officer found guilty of using unreasonable force

STATESVILLE, N.C. – A North Carolina police officer who was fired after being accused of yanking a woman out of her car and slamming her face-first to the ground has been found guilty of using unreasonable force against her.

News outlets report a federal jury returned a split verdict Thursday against former Hickory police officer Robert George. He was found not guilty of falsifying a report.

The Justice Department said George injured Chelsea Doolittle in 2013 while arresting her for disorderly conduct. Security video and testimony revealed he picked her up and slammed her to the ground, giving her a concussion, breaking her nose and damaging her teeth.

George’s defence team argued that she slipped from his grasp.

Doolittle sued the city and George, who was fired. He now awaits sentencing.