PHILADELPHIA - Closing arguments are expected Thursday morning in the criminal trial of a former Philadelphia SWAT Officer captured on video pepper spraying protesters at close range on I-676 during the citywide unrest that followed the police killing of George Floyd.The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office alleges that Richard Nicoletti assaulted the protesters nearly three years ago.
His defense, meanwhile, claims the disgraced officer was doing his job. Charges include one count of possession of an instrument of crime, three counts each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and official oppression.A video of Nicoletti dressed in riot gear approaching three protesters kneeling on Interstate 676 on June 1, 2020, pulling down at least one protester's mask or goggles, then pepper-spraying them, was circulated widely on social media and was included in several news stories about the national police response to demonstrations.RELATED COVERAGEChristina Sorenson, one of the protesters pepper sprayed by Nicoletti, took the stand for the prosecution on Wednesday.