The court has cleared Oregon police officer Corey Budworth of assault charges, sparking a fresh controversy in the case that saw him strike a photographer in the head during a public demonstration following George Floyd's death in 2020.
Budworth was initially indicted with fourth-degree battery after a chilling video surfaced online depicting him allegedly attacking established photographer, Teri Jacobs, with his truncheon in August of that year. Disturbingly, the video further recorded him hitting her a second time while she was grounded before sauntering off.
A review of Multnomah County court records by international news outlet CNN revealed the news of the dismissal of charges against Budworth. The case was formally dismissed by Judge Celia Howes and subsequently closed.
Budworth then took an unexpected turn, releasing a statement through the Oregon Justice Reform Center in which he profusely apologized to Jacobs. Timing around the video's circulation remains uncertain.
In his statement, Budworth confessed to the emotional and physical harm his misconduct caused, pledging to dramatically alter behavior that would lead to such devastating consequences. He shared personal insights from an intense restorative justice process where he met and apologized privately to Jacobs.
Budworth's actions were further scrutinized as he acknowledged the unjustified and avoidable use of force against Jacobs. Moreover, he recognized the wider implications of the incident on the already confused and mistrustful community climate regarding law enforcement.
Reacting to this, Jacobs stated, although nothing could change the past events, his admission could be the catalyst for much-needed systemic changes to curb future incidents of police brutality.
Budworth served in the Portland police department's Rapid Response Team which is a specialized crowd control team. He was serving in this capacity at the time of the incident. The team, labeled by the department as a voluntary force entrusted with ensuring safety during high tension mass events, was on duty during the 2020 summer protests.
In June 2021, following Budworth's indictment, approximately 50 officers resigned from the team sighting a 'politically driven' decision to indict Budworth. These officers subsequently resumed their typical duty roles
At its height, the team comprised officers from various departmental branches, trained in crowd management and specialized public safety techniques.
Former acting Police Chief, Chris Davis, attributed the amalgamated stress inflicted on the organization and particularly on the Rapid Response Team during over 150 nights of city unrest as the reason behind the mass resignations.
The incident was described by the Portland Police Association in the aftermath of the indictment as transpiring in a 'chaotic night of burning and destruction', and defended the actions as in accordance with their training. They concluded that the incident had been assessed by the department's experts.
