Cook County Judge Diane Cannon delivered a judgment in favor of Cmdr. Glenn Evans, 53, who was accused of two counts of aggravated battery and seven counts of official misconduct
‘Law and order' was finally handed down two years after Evans allegedly shoved his gun in the mouth of 25-year old Ricky Williams and pressed a stun gun against him.
According to the judge, William's testimony was not acceptable because the suspect could not pick Evans out in a lineup.
"His testimony taxes the gullibility of the credulous," Cannon said, adding that Williams was "eager to change his testimony at anyone's request to accommodate the evidence."
African-American police commander Evans, working in the Chicago police force for 29 years, could have been imprisoned for up to 5 years.
Prosecutors claim that DNA found on Evans' weapon showed that he shoved the gun in William's mouth. Cannon dismissed the evidence saying that it could be simply a "touch" effect coming from Evans touching Williams and then touching his gun.
The case comes as the Chicago Police Department is increasingly scrutinized in light of widespread accusations of racism and brutality.
Police brutality and racism is seen as endemic in the US. Evans was not suspended from duty following his charges, and it remains unclear if will be allowed to continue working as a police officer following the judgment.