PROVIDENCE, Ky. (AP) — A former police officer in western Kentucky has been charged in federal court with willfully violating the civil rights of a person and filing a false report.
A release from the U.S. Department of Justice says former police officer William Dukes arrested Webster County resident “J.L.” without probable cause in May. The release says Dukes made the arrest because J.L. had sought to file a complaint against Dukes with state law enforcement agencies.
The arrest injured the citizen and “involved the use of a dangerous weapon,” the release says. Dukes was an officer with the Providence Police Department.
He is facing up to 10 years in prison on two civil rights charges and up to 20 years on the false report charge if he is convicted in federal court.
The indictment in federal court was handed down on Thursday.
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