From [HERE] At the end of an article by a local ABC News affiliate this nugget was found; "the public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial." [MORE] Only for white people - bw. A Birmingham police officer was indicted by a federal grand jury today for two separate incidents of using excessive force, federal authorities announced. According to the indictment, Corey L. Hooper, 34, was indicted on charges of depriving the civil rights of two individuals while acting under his authority as a police officer Hooper is still employed with the Birmingham Police Department. The two incidents occurred in 2007. Hooper's attorney, Everett Wess, said that Hooper will enter a plea of not guilty to the charges at an arraignment hearing. That hearing is to be held Aug. 16.  The indictment charges Hooper also used excessive force on Sept. 6, 2007, when he repeatedly struck a black man, Martez Gulley with his hands and fists while he was handcuffed and secured in the backseat of a patrol car.

Last year a federal jury in a civil trial of a lawsuit filed against Hooper found that Hooper had used excessive force against Gulley for the same incident. The jury awarded Gulley $71,290 in the case. Gulley's injuries were so severe he had to go to the hospital three separate times, Gulley's attorney Wendy Brooks Crew told jurors.

According to the lawsuit, Gulley had been arrested and was in handcuffs in the back of a police car when Hooper, who was not the arresting officer, pulled him from the car and repeatedly punched him in the face with a closed fist, causing severe injury to Gulley. The lawsuit says that once apprehended, Gulley was not trying to escape and was not posing a threat. Hooper has been promoted twice since the incident. He is now a homicide detective. [MORE] After the verdict was rendered the Birmingham Police faxed an arrest warrant to the Court and had Gulley arrested for a bogus burglary charge. Police arrested him. [MORE] white power!