Former Texas police officer sentenced to 300 days in jail after turning off body camera, abusing detainee

FOX 4 Dallas 1d agoFOX4

A former Cedar Hill police officer was sentenced to 300 days in the Ellis County Jail after a jury convicted him of official oppression stemming from his conduct during a 2024 traffic stop, according to the Ellis County and District Attorney’s Office.Former Cedar Hill officer convictedDonald Najee Mercer, of Dallas County, was convicted June 10 of a misdemeanor offense and was ordered to serve jail time after jurors rejected probation.According to trial testimony, Mercer stopped a woman in Cedar Hill on August 7, 2024, while driving an officer patrol vehicle and wearing his Cedar Hill police uniform. Prosecutors said he administered field sobriety tests, before arresting the woman on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and transported her to Methodist Midlothian Medical Center to have her blood drawn.Details of the 2024 traffic stop, oppression chargesEvidence presented at trial showed that after returning to the patrol vehicle, the woman told Mercer she had marijuana in her pocket.

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