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After acquittal of first officer, Nathan Bill's cases continue next month

A 2020 Black Lives Matter rally in front of Nathan Bill's Bar and Restaurant in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen

The Massachusetts Attorney General's office says it respects the jury's verdict, after a Springfield police officer was found not guilty this week of trying to help cover up a 2015 fight outside a city bar.

Darren Nguyen was charged with filing a false police report, misleading criminal investigators and perjury in connection with the brawl outside of Nathan Bill's bar.

Some off-duty officers allegedly beat up four Black men, who later settled for a combined $885,000 with the city over the incident.

Nguyen was the first defendant in the case to face a jury. The attorney general's office said 10 defendants remain. Charges have been dropped against several other officers who were initially charged.

Two of the defendants are scheduled to go to trial December 1 in Worcester Superior Court, including Nathan Bill's owner, John Sullivan, who is charged with assault and lying to federal investigators. Springfield Police Officer John Wajdula is accused of perjury, misleading an investigator and filing a false police report.

Another officer, Jose Diaz, is scheduled to go on trial January 3 in Springfield on charges of assault and battery, conspiracy and misleading an investigator.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Maura Healy said the office looks forward to continuing its case against the remaining defendants. Healy's office is handling prosecution of all the related cases. 

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Adam joined NEPM as a freelance reporter and fill-in operations assistant during the summer of 2011. For more than 15 years, Adam has had a number stops throughout his broadcast career, including as a news reporter and anchor, sports host and play-by-play announcer as well as a producer and technician.