Jaleel Stallings objects to proposed plea deal for former Minneapolis police officer Justin Stetson
MINNEAPOLIS – A man beaten by police says he'd rather go to trial than have prosecutors offer the former officer a plea deal.
Wednesday morning, former Minneapolis police officer Justin Stetson – charged with beating Jaleel Stallings during the unrest following George Floyd's murder – is expected to accept a plea.
The city of Minneapolis paid Stallings a $1.5 million settlement last year.
"While it is a resolution, it's not a favorable one," Stallings said.
He objects to a plea deal for what happened in during May of 2020. Stetson is accused of kicking and punching Stallings in the head repeatedly and slamming his head on the ground.
"I saw this as an opportunity to rebuild trust within the community. I saw this as an opportunity to hold everyone accountable. And I did not see that happening," Stallings said.
Stetson is accused of felony assault in the beating. The potential deal would keep the ex-officer out of jail, and he'd avoid a felony conviction.
"I feel like this is being far too lenient and basically just giving him a way out. I feel like it doesn't deter negative actions from any other police officers that may be looking to follow in those same footsteps," Stallings said.
READ MORE: Former Minneapolis police officer Justin Stetson charged with assaulting Jaleel Stallings in 2020
Stallings himself was at one point charged with attempted murder stemming from the same incident. A jury acquitted him after he says he shot back after being struck with a less-lethal round. When he realized it was police, he says he dropped his gun and laid on the ground.
"Seeing failure after failure throughout the system, to let it get to the point that it did is a lot more disappointing and traumatizing than the incident in of itself," Stallings said.
Stetson's attorney Fred Bruno didn't have a comment, nor did the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, which is prosecuting the case.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday. WCCO News will have a reporter in the courtroom.
