4 Fort Wayne police officers cleared in Escobedo excessive force trial

From [HERE] FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The federal judge in the excessive force trial against eight Fort Wayne police officers in the shooting death of Rudy Escobedo ruled Monday that the team that used tear gas and flash bangs to enter into Escobedo's apartment did not violate his constitutional rights.

The four officers, Scott Straub, Sgt. Tim Selvia, Brian Martin and Jason Brown are cleared of any wrongdoing in the case.

The defense will now present a case surrounding the supervising team that made the initial decision to go into the apartment.

Judge Theresa Springmann will rule on whether the court should decide the trial's outcome or if the jury will offer a verdict once the defense rests its case. The defense had filed for a directed verdict. That is when the judge makes a ruling, often because one side didn't prove its case, as was the decision to rule in favor for the entry team.