FALL RIVER — Nicholas Hoar, the 37-year-old Fall River police officer found guilty in federal court on Feb. 1 for assaulting a prisoner with a police baton and lying about it to cover up the assault, resigned from the Fall River Police Department days after his conviction.
With Hoar free on bail as he awaits sentencing on April 24, the Fall River Police Department is moving ahead with internal investigations into the assault on William Harvey, 58, inside a jail cell at police headquarters on Dec. 21, 2020.
After a four-day trial, a jury convicted Hoar of depriving Harvey of his civil rights under color of law and two counts of filing false reports.
Harvey, who was charged with felony assault on a police officer until Hoar’s indictment and investigation by the FBI, did not testify at trial.
Officer found guilty:Nicholas Hoar convicted in excessive force case
Harvey, a Las Vegas resident, spent over 200 days in jail before the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office dropped the felony charge. Before the federal criminal trial, Harvey settled a civil suit against the city for $65,000.