YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Jury selection is under way in federal court in Yakima in the case of a mentally-ill man who died after a beating at the hands of Spokane police 5 years ago.
Police Officer Karl F. Thompson is on trial for use of excessive force and lying to investigators. The trial, which begins Wednesday, was moved to Yakima because of intense publicity.
36-year-old Otto Zehm was beaten with a baton, hogtied, had a plastic mask placed over his face and was sat on by some officers. He died two days later without regaining consciousness.
