U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced a former police officer to two years in prison for assaulting a handcuffed man. The incident involved Justin Gaither, who was on duty with the Venice Police Department on November 20, 2022.
Gaither pursued a car with stolen license plates, deploying spike strips before the chase continued into St. Louis. A Brooklyn Police Department officer also participated in the pursuit, which ended on Parnell Avenue in St. Louis. After the vehicle stopped, its occupants fled. The driver was apprehended after being bitten by a K-9 while attempting to climb over a fence and was subsequently handcuffed by the Brooklyn officer.
While escorting the driver to a police vehicle, Gaither struck him twice in the face without justification or legitimate purpose, resulting in a broken nose.
In February, Gaither pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. The charge pertained to violating the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable force.
The FBI conducted an investigation into the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug.
