ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando police officer testified against Officer Chase Fugate Tuesday morning in Fugate's battery and perjury trial.
Fugate is accused of striking a handcuffed suspect for taking off during a traffic stop last year.
Police offers started the case against Fugate.
Orlando police Officer Kyle Medvetz is one of two officers who told supervisors in June, 2014 that they saw Fugate strike Ronald McFadden while he was handcuffed.
Medvetz testified Tuesday that Fugate walked up to McFadden and struck him while he was sitting on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Medvetz demonstrated for the jury how someone who was handcuffed might get up to try to run.
Fugate said he did not know McFadden was handcuffed. Fugate said he saw McFadden move as he approached and wanted to stop McFadden from taking off again.
Medvetz testified that he had drawn his gun earlier, but McFadden was compliant, and after he handcuffed McFadden, he didn't see him move.
"Did he ever ask you if the suspect was handcuffed?" an attorney asked Medvetz in court.
"No," Medvetz replied.
"Was he in a rush?" the attorney asked.
"No," Medvetz said.
"Was it too dark to see?" the attorney asked.
"No," Medvetz said.
"Why did you never remove your handgun?" the attorney asked.
"[I] did not believe lethal force was necessary," Medvetz replied.
"Did you believe any force was necessary?" the attorney asked.
"No, sir," Medvetz said.
However, Medvetz said he had only about six months of experience at the time, and his attention was divided. He also said there might have been techniques of which he was not aware.
Officer Chris Ehlers told the jury he had never seen anyone use inappropriate force the way Fugate did on a handcuffed suspect Ronald McFadden in June 2014.
Ehlers demonstrated what he said he saw Fugate do with his fist.
"I saw Officer Fugate strike the suspect on the left side of his face or cheek with his fist," Ehlers said in court.
Ehlers testified that McFadden was sitting on the ground with his hands behind his back after being handcuffed, and gave no indication that he was about to flee. Ehlers said Fugate punched McFadden and then cursed at him.
"(He said,) 'Don't you ever (expletive) run from me again.' After he was hit he fell on his side," Ehlers said.
Ehlers said when he and Medvetz left the scene they talked about what they saw.
Ehlers has been an acting supervisor who has done use of force reviews for OPD.
"I was very shocked at what happened. I had a few choice swear words," he said.
Fugate said he was using a strong-arm technique to get the suspect to lay down on the ground.
Previous story:
Trial of OPD officer accused of punching handcuffed suspect underway
Orlando police officer denies punching suspect in audio recording
WFTV
