Cincinnati police Officer Patrick Caton appeared to be high on adrenaline when he walked away from an inert, handcuffed Roger Owensby Jr. and told another officer, “we beat the ... out of him,” the second officer testified Friday.

Caton

Owensby

        Appearing in Hamilton County Municipal Court, Officer Alexander Hasse said he then walked toward Mr. Owensby, who was in the back seat of a police cruiser, and found that the 29-year-old College Hill resident had no pulse.

        He and Officer Caton attempted chest compressions but were unable to revive Mr. Owensby, who died that night, Nov. 7.

        Mr. Owensby was running from police when they tackled him in the parking lot of a Roselawn gas station. Police wanted to question him about a drug investigation.

        Officer Caton faces a misdemeanor assault charge, accused of punching Mr. Owensby after he was handcuffed and lying on the ground. He faces six months in prison if convicted.

        In a related trial, Officer Robert “Blaine” Jorg is accused of felony involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mr. Owensby. He is accused of putting Mr. Owensby in a fatal choke hold.

        At Officer Caton's trial, two officers — David Hunter and Darren Sellers — have said they saw Officer Caton punch Mr. Owensby and said the force was excessive for the circumstances.

        “I said, "I got him cuffed! I got him cuffed!' That's when Officer Caton started hitting him,” Officer Sellers testified Friday.

        Officer Caton screamed "Stop resisting!' about four times and punched Mr. Owensby each time, Officer Sellers said.

        “That surprised me. He wasn't resisting. He was already cuffed. It was inappropriate.”

        Defense attorney Merlyn Shiverdecker has said Officer Caton used “permissible force.”

        Under cross-examination, Officer Hunter said he has known Mr. Owensby's father most of his life.

        But “he was using excessive force,” Officer Hunter said. “It shocked me. I didn't expect that.”

        The defense presents its case Monday morning.

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