BALTIMORE (AP) - A Baltimore school police officer caught on video slapping and kicking a teen at a school while another officer stood by has pleaded not guilty.
News media outlets report that Anthony Spence and fellow school police officer Saverna Bias both entered the plea on Thursday to the misdemeanor charges of assault and misconduct.
Spence was originally charged with second-degree child abuse, but the state's attorney's office said in a statement that it was deemed inappropriate since the officers didn't have temporary custody of the teen.
According to a police charging statement, a witness to the March 1 encounter said Bias told Spence to hit the youth, and Spence then hit and kicked the teen.
The Baltimore Sun reports that Spence's attorney, Warren Brown, says the student spat on Spence.
