News 12 Midday, October 3, 2008
GREENVILLE, Sc. (AP) -- A federal court jury has decided a a South
Carolina trooper did not intentionally strike a fleeing suspect with his
patrol car.

The not guilty verdict came at 3:50 pm.

Prosecutors tried to prove Lance Cpl. Steven Garren deliberately hit
suspect Marvin Grant with his cruiser. They showed jurors a video
of the collision and the trooper bragging about the incident.

Defense attorneys say the trooper could not avoid hitting Grant
when he cut in front of the patrol car during the June 2007 chase.

Garren was charged with depriving a suspect of his civil rights
by using unreasonable force. Garren is white; Grant is black.

If convicted, he could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a
$250,000 fine.