A former sergeant with the Providence Police Department was convicted Monday in federal court on one count of willfully arresting a citizen without probable cause, according to the Justice Department. After five days of trial, Justice Department officials say the jury convicted Dukes of arresting the victim, knowing that he did not have probable cause to believe that the victim had committed a crime, in violation of his 4th Amendment rights.
The jury heard testimony that Dukes arrested the victim because the victim had called several law enforcement agencies seeking a complaint against him. Officials say Dukes was acquitted of another civil rights charge for violating the victim’s 1st Amendment rights, and he was also acquitted of an obstruction of justice charge.
Sentencing is set for September 13. The statutory maximum on the charge is 120 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the Louisville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
