HYATTSVILLE, Md. - Two police officers have been indicted for allegedly beating a homeless man and unleashing a dog on him when they arrested him for breaking into a gas station.
All but one of the charges against homeless man Hector Millan were dropped, police said.
Cpl. James C. Partenza and Cpl. Mark Elie are charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
Millan, 28, pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor burglary charge and was granted probation before judgment, leaving no conviction on his record for the Jan. 20 incident.
``He's been convicted of nothing,'' said Terrell N. Roberts III, Millan's attorney.
Documents filed after Millan's arrest alleged that he threatened to kill a gas station attendant and pushed Partenza when the officer tried to arrest him.
However, an investigation was started after a third officer at the scene, Cpl. Joseph Diaz, told his supervisors he believed Partenza and Elie used force without justification.
Indictments against the officers were announced Friday. The FBI and a federal grand jury also are investigating.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Jack B. Johnson said that when the two officers found Millan hiding inside the station, Millan raised his hand to surrender but Partenza hit him with his baton and Elie unleashed his dog.
Millan said the dog bit his ankle and one arm, and showed a scar on his head that he said was caused by the officer's baton.
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