The three officers’ actions were not only unwarranted, according to the indictment, but also unnecessary because other officers who were arresting the teenager had the matter under control and had not asked for assistance.
Two of the three men charged in connection with the incident — Michael Delahanty, the retired lieutenant, and Officer Matthew Przemieniecki — face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The third, Officer Justin Ubry, faces up to a year in prison.
Each of the defendants was released on a $50,000 bond after an initial court appearance on Friday. They are prohibited from leaving the country, and they were ordered to surrender their firearms by Monday. They are scheduled to be arraigned on the charges next week.
Eric Marcy, a lawyer for Mr. Ubry, said his client had done nothing wrong.
“He’s a good police officer, he has a good reputation in the community, and his actions do not constitute a violation of federal criminal civil rights laws,” Mr. Marcy said in an interview.
A lawyer for Officer Przemieniecki did not respond to a request for comment. Mr. Delahanty’s lawyer could not immediately be reached.