Former St. Johns deputy found not guilty on aggravated battery charges

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. —

A former St. Johns County Sheriff’s Deputy has been found not guilty in connection with a violent 2019 traffic stop.

The jury returned the verdict just after 2:30 p.m.

Anthony Deleo was fired from the sheriff’s office in Jan. 2020 and charged with aggravated battery after he was seen on video beating an unarmed man.

The video recorded by a bystander showed Deleo hitting 30-year-old Christopher Butler 19 times with his baton and kicking him in the head. In the video, Butler can be seen sitting on the ground offering little resistance.

According to a warrant, Butler was given verbal commands to get on the ground but didn’t comply, that’s when DeLeo hit him with his baton and an FHP trooper tased him.

Butler suffered fractures to his nose, scapula and humerus.

This is a developing story.

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