Former Illinois Police Officer Admits Assaulting Handcuffed Man

ST. LOUIS – A former police officer in Venice, Ill. on Thursday admitted striking a handcuffed man in the face after a police chase.

Justin Gaither, 34, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force. He admitted that on Nov. 20, 2022, while working in full uniform and on duty with the Venice Police Department, he began pursuing a car that was displaying stolen license plates. The car drove over spike strips that Gaither deployed, then over the McKinley Bridge and into St. Louis. A Brooklyn (Illinois) Police Department officer was also pursuing the car. The pursuit ended in the 3800 block of Parnell Avenue in St. Louis and all of the vehicle’s occupants ran away from the car. Gaither and the Brooklyn officer, accompanied by that officer’s K9, chased the driver. The driver was bitten while climbing over a fence, fell and was then handcuffed by the Brooklyn officer. As Gaither lifted the driver from the ground to escort him to a police vehicle, he struck the driver twice in the face without justification and without a legitimate purpose, the plea agreement says. The driver suffered a broken nose.

Gaither is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2. The charge carries penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and fine.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.