Atlanta Hawks’ Thabo Sefolosha has been found not guilty on all charges in a case stemming from a police altercation outside of a New York City nightclub.
Sefolosha was on trial for misdemeanor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, and was found not guilty by a Manhattan jury, according to ESPN.
“They were on the side of truth and justice today. ... I'm just happy all this is over now and I can put this behind me, knowing my name has been cleared,” Sefolosha told reporters.
The 31-year-old guard-forward testified that he had been trying to give a beggar a $20 bill when officers forcefully grabbed him and took him down, breaking his right leg, while the prosecution repeatedly accused him of disobeying officer orders. Another NBA player, Chris Copeland, had been stabbed in the vicinity when Sefolosha encountered a confrontational officer who claimed Sefolosha acted with entitlement and refused to leave the area.
Following his broken leg, Sefolosha subsequently missed the 2014-15 playoffs and is still recovering from surgery.
The New York Times reported the jury’s verdict laid a strong foundation for a civil suit, according to experienced civil lawsuit lawyers; however, when asked by reporters on Friday if he would be suing the city, Sefolosha said: “I haven’t made a decision on that.”