OAKLAND, Calif. – The first three days of trial for two ex-Antioch cops have been a roller coaster, full of drama and emotional witness testimony, and culminating with the trial’s abrupt end for one of the defendants.
On Wednesday morning, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White declared a mistrial in the case of Devon Wenger, a former Antioch policeman charged with conspiracy to violate the rights of Antioch citizens and one count related to allegedly using excessive force. The trial will continue for Wenger’s co-defendant, Morteza Amiri, who faces charges of conspiracy and illegal use of his police dog on various people.
The mistrial means that the prosecution against Wenger will proceed separately, at a to-be-determined date. Wenger also faces unresolved steroid distribution charges, tentatively set for trial in April…