Judge: Bozeman police intentionally erased audio

BOZEMAN (AP) — A judge has found Bozeman police intentionally erased a portion of an audio recording made during a welfare check on a man who claims officers used excessive force against him.

Soheil Jesse Verdi claims the officers caused him to fall and injure his skull when they used a stun gun against him in 2007.

One of the officers was wearing a microphone.

Attorneys for U.S. District Judge Richard Anderson agreed with Verdi in a ruling last month the segment was intentionally erased.

The judge says he will instruct a jury that the missing audio "would be relevant and favorable to some or all of the plaintiff's claims of excessive force" if the case goes to trial.