Former cop pleads guilty to official opression

By Kevin Jefferies

Greenville – A former Greenville Police officer has pleaded guilty to charges of official oppression. John Kenneth White entered the plea Friday.

White responded to an altercation in May of 2005 between four black males and three Hispanic males that reportedly involved at least one weapon. After White had arrested one of the Hispanic suspects, a 13 yard old boy approached a second suspect. From video taken by his patrol car camera, White was seen shoving the boy with both hands to the ground.

A mistrial was declared in the case previously when a jury was unable to reach a decision in the case.

The charge of Official Oppression was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor Friday as part of a plea agreement. White was placed on one year of deferred adjudication probation, fined, and ordered to relinquish his law enforcement certification.