BUFFALO, N.Y. — A state supreme court judge ruled Thursday Buffalo police officer Joseph Hassett was not guilty of assaulting a person in custody inside the department's central booking area in 2017. Hassett was freed on all five counts, after being charged with assault, misconduct and offering a false instrument for filing.

The verdict follows a non-jury, bench trial earlier this month.

In March of last year, he was accused of causing physical injury to a person in his custody at the Buffalo Police Department.

Erie County D.A. John Flynn says he respectfully disagrees with the verdict, especially since his office had received videotape appearing to show the incident.

Flynn says the victim was handcuffed, searched three times and did not pose a threat to Hassett's safety before the unnecessary takedown.

"I am quite frankly, shocked," Flynn (D) said. "I prosecuted this case because I thought a crime had been committed, and I think that quite frankly the video speaks for itself."

"We're just very gratified for the verdict. We're blessed to have an innocent client in the case. And we put on a strong case. Not just the video, expert witness and our client testified first for the defense," said Timothy Hoover, Hassett's attorney. "The expert witness testified Officer Hassett was properly trained, acted in accord with his training and the result was the use of force, which was very limited, was reasonable."

The department had suspended the veteran officer following the incident, as he turned himself into police last summer. There is no word yet on when Hassett is expected to return to work.