MoCo Cop Convicted In Excessive Force Case: Report

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Montgomery County police officer captured on video kneeing a man's head to the ground during a drug arrest in July was convicted Thursday of assault, according to multiple media outlets.

The jury found Officer Kevin Moris, 32, guilty of second-degree assault, but acquitted him of misconduct in office. He will be sentenced in circuit court at a later date.

The events that led to criminal charges against Moris began on July 3 when undercover cops investigated Arnaldo Pesoa, 19, of Silver Spring, for allegedly selling psilocybin mushrooms in the Aspen Hill area.

Plainclothes officers located Pesoa inside a McDonald's at 13701 Connecticut Ave. and tried to arrest him for the attempted distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. Police say Pesoa resisted arrest both inside and outside the restaurant.

Video of the incident, which went viral on social media, appears to show Moris driving his knee in to the back of Pesoa's head. At the time, Pesoa was handcuffed and lying face down on the sidewalk.