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No criminal charges for officer who kicked boy

MATT SEDENSKY
Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors say a police officer caught on video kicking a restrained boy’s legs out from under him will not face criminal charges.

In dramatic footage that surfaced online last month, officer Germaine Jones of the Boynton Beach Police Department is seen delivering a sweeping kick to the boy, who is standing with his hands restrained behind his back. The boy then fell to the ground.

The state attorney for Palm Beach County said Wednesday the boy had been “disruptive and profane” and had chest-bumped another officer.

Prosecutors said the action taken by Jones controlled the juvenile and was not done with malicious intent.

Police responded after eggs were allegedly thrown at the driver of the boy’s bus. No students were charged.

A separate internal police investigation is still ongoing.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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