DETROIT – A former Detroit police officer found guilty of chasing down and beating a man for no apparent reason was sentenced Friday to 18 months of probation.
Edward Hicks, 28, was originally charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, but the charge was changed to aggravated assault. He was found guilty June 26 by a jury.
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Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Hicks beat Deonta Stewart, 31, at the Martin Luther King homes at Lafayette and Chene streets in Detroit on Aug. 30, 2016.
Prosecutors said Stewart was walking in a dark area when Hicks spotted him and yelled at him to stop. Stewart took off running, but eventually stopped and laid down on his stomach when he realized he was being chased by a police officer, the prosecutor said.
"It is alleged that officer Hicks began punching Stewart in the face multiple times, flipping him over and causing bleeding and some serious injury to Stewart," Worthy said.
The prosecutor said Stewart suffered serious injuries to his eyes and face and accused Hicks of trying to get Stewart to lie about how he suffered the injuries.
Stewart told the court he was punched in the face about five times.
Hicks is no longer with the Detroit Police Department.