Westfall takes stand in third day of trial
UPDATE 10pm: Formerpolice officer Steven Westfall has been found not guilty after the jury in his trial deliberated Friday evening.
After hours of testimonies from numerous police officers, former police officer Steven Westfall finally takes the stand.
“A lot of people go to the IRS office to take care of tax stuff and they’re not happy. So, I was nervous after I learned Rutherford might have a knife,” said Westfall.
James Rutherford was at the IRS office in the OMNI building on July 10th when a security guard suspected that Rutherford may have a knife.
It was ruled out later he did not have a knife.
Westfall continued to talk about what happened that day. He says he dropped his elbow down onto Rutherford’s head to control him and help out with the arrest.
Westfall also talked about how his military training has given him the techniques in the way he used restrain Rutherford.
“I’ve been threatened by this on social media you have no idea what this has done to me and my family,” Westfall said during his testimony. “I think the media has also been one-sided about this as well.”