St. Paul cop acquitted of punching handcuffed teen leaves force

The St. Paul Police officer who was acquitted of assault after he punched a 14-year-old girl has resigned citing personal reasons.

Michael Soucheray II faced trial for misdemeanor assault charges for hitting the reportedly suicidal girl in the face after she spat on him. Soucheray and other officers had responded to a shelter for teens to take the girl to the hospital. They handcuffed her and put her in the back of the squad car.

St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell said he was "deeply disappointed" by what he saw on squad car video of the incident. Soucheray's attorney said the officer didn't intend to cause harm.

Soucheray was put on paid administrative leave for about four months. He returned to work in May after his acquittal, according to St. Paul Police Department records, and resigned Nov. 24.

At the time of his resignation, the department had two open internal affairs investigations involving Soucheray. Now that Soucheray's no longer a city employee, the investigations will not move forward, St. Paul police spokesperson Steve Linders said.

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