Ex-Bay Pines Police Officer Indicted For Excessive Force

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A former Bay Pines VA Healthcare System police office has been indicted for using excessive force against an Army veteran.

Last week, United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the return of an indictment charging Norman Nicholson, 56, of Largo with one count of making false records in a federal investigation and one count of depriving an individual of their rights under color of law.

If convicted, Nicholson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the obstruction charge and up to one year in federal prison for the civil rights violation.

According to the indictment, while employed as a police officer with the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs healthcare facility at 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, Nicholson used excessive and unreasonable force during the arrest of a U.S. Army veteran.

The indictment contends that Nicholson then wrote two false arrest affidavits and a police report in an attempt to cover up the incident.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.