Sefolosha averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season before being sidelined by the injury. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Hawks guard Thabo Sefolosha was found not guilty on Friday in a case stemming from a police incident outside a New York City nightclub in April.
Sefolosha, 31, was arrested and charged with obstructing governmental administration, refusing to clear the area of a crime scene, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct following an argument that resulted in the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland on April 8.
Sefolosha now is expected to file civil suit against the New York Police Department.
Sefolosha sustained a season-ending fibula fracture during his arrest and blamed the NYPD for his injury.
According to the New York Times, Sefolosha turned down a plea bargain that would have resulted in the charges being dropped if he did a day of community service and stayed out of trouble for six months.
TMZ had published a video that it said showed five officers surrounding Sefolosha at the scene and trying to take hold of him. The video appeared to show one officer grabbing Sefolosha by the back of the neck before bringing him down to the ground.
Copeland suffered a knife wound to his left elbow and abdomen in the incident outside the nightclub. He also had a fractured elbow that required surgery.
Sefolosha averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season before being sidelined by the injury.
