Camden, N.J. – A suspended Gloucester Township police officer has been found guilty for striking a juvenile who was being detained, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill Mayer and Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins.
Officials say, John Flinn, 29, of Williamstown, was found guilty on two counts of second-degree Official Misconduct on March 11 by a jury following a nearly three-week trial. The jury was deadlocked on a charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Flinn responded to a reported disturbance on March 8, 2018. As Flinn was handcuffing a 13-year-old girl, he struck her twice in the face. Body worn cameras from responding officers captured the incident.
According to officials, Flinn was charged in April 2018 after the Gloucester Township Police Internal Affairs Unit reviewed the body worn camera footage and turned it over to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
Acting Assistant Prosecutor Angela Seixas prosecuted the case that began on Feb. 20 in front of the Honorable Judge Edward J. McBride.
During the trial, a responding officer testified he witnessed Flinn strike the victim with an open hand twice while she was complying with commands.
Flinn was released under conditions and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.