Trooper charged with federal civil rights violation

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Trooper charged with federal civil rights violation

By Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 17, 2008 at 4:03 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2008 at 4:03 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)- A former South Carolina trooper caught on video kicking a suspect in the head is now facing a federal civil rights charge.

U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins says John B. Sawyer was charged Thursday with violating the victim's civil rights.

Earlier this year, video emerged showing Sawyer kicking Sergio Caridi in the head several times after an interstate chase in 2006.

Sawyer was placed on leave afterward and resigned several months
later.

Sawyer is the second trooper indicted in as many months.

In June, Steve Garren was charged with a federal civil rights
violation after being caught on video ramming a suspect with his patrol car.

Authorities began investigating the Highway Patrol in March after tapes emerged of a trooper using a racial epithet.

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