Lawyer Disputes Trooper Charges in Suspect Beating

An attorney for a New Jersey state trooper is disputing a charge his client used excessive force during an arrest three years ago.

Charles Sciarra said Thursday that state officials have been swayed more by headlines than facts in the case of trooper Richard Wambold.

Wambold and another trooper were seen in a video, made public this month by The Star-Ledger of Newark, throwing James Bayliss to the ground, kneeling on him and punching him during a traffic stop in Warren County in May 2009.

Wambold was initially cleared of using excessive force but administrative charges were filed against him and another trooper on March 23.

Bayliss's attorney questioned why it's taken more than a year since the family filed suit for the state to take action.

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