PHILADELPHIA - Former SWAT officer Richard Nicoletti who was seen on video pepper spraying protesters on I-676 during the unrest following George Floyd’s death is awaiting trial after a judge allowed criminal charges to proceed.
Charges include one count of possession of an instrument of crime, three counts each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and official oppression.A video of him dressed in riot gear approaching three protesters kneeling on Interstate 676 on June 1, 2020, pulling down at least one protester's mask or goggles, then pepper-spraying them, was circulated widely on social media and was included in several news stories about the national police response to demonstrations."Today, a Court of Common Pleas.