Ex-Officers Acquitted in Alleged Masturbation Civil Rights Case

A federal jury has acquitted two former Philadelphia police officers in a case of alleged misconduct and civil rights violations.
 
The panel deliberated for about three hours Wednesday before acquitting 39-year-old Joseph Harvey of a civil rights violation and acquitting 34-year-old Sean Cahill of lying to investigators.
 
Prosecutors alleged Harvey ordered a woman to undress, then masturbated in front of her, during an October 2009 drug raid. They also claimed Cahill lied to investigators about the case. Both men were fired from the police force.
 
The alleged victim, now 26 and an admitted drug addict at the time, testified that she was using drugs in an abandoned house when the incident occurred.
 
Defense attorney James Funt told the jury the act was "gross" but consensual.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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