Officer Caught Beating Suspect On Video Gets 6-Month Sentence
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- From protecting our streets to behind bars, a Baltimore City police officer is sentenced to six months in jail. This, after he's caught on camera punching a man at a bus stop.
Rick Ritter has reaction from the community and more on the sentencing.
Video from this incident sparked a federal investigation into the Baltimore City Police Department. On Friday, the officer was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but six months suspended.
"No one is above the law- It is our job to pursue justice fairly and equally in all cases regardless of one's occupation and that is exactly what we did today," stated Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
The video raised eyebrows across the city. Now the officer caught landing heavy blows is headed to jail.
"Our client was knocked unconscious on his feet," said Tony Garcia, attorney for Kollin Truss.
On June 15, 2014, 32-year-old Kollin Truss and Officer Vincent Cosom Jr. exchange words near Greenmount and North avenues. The officer says he orders Truss to leave the area, but he refuses.
Officer Cosom says that's when Truss got into a physical altercation with a woman at a nearby bus stop. When he went to make an arrest, he claims Truss got into a fighting stance.
City surveillance video shows Cosom throwing punch after punch. Police later arrest and charge Truss with assault, but a prosecutor reviews the tape and dismisses it.
On Friday, it's Cosom who pleads guilty to assault and is slapped with a six month sentence. Some feel it's not enough.
"He used his job to brutalize that man," said Kevin Torain.
But attorney Andrew Levy says rarely do you see officers serve jail time.
"Seeing a jail sentence on a case like this, particularly a police officer, is pretty significant," said Levy.
And that many will now compare the facts of this case to similar ones down the road.
"Considering what is a fair sentence in the event of a conviction, everybody would look at something like this as something of a baseline," Levy said.
Cosom's attorney wanted a full suspended sentence, but the judge said she would not consider it.
Two other officers were involved in the incident. Police say their actions are also under review.
