Deadlock Ends Officer’s Trial on Weapons Charge
A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday after the jury deadlocked in the case of an El Monte police officer accused of brandishing his service revolver at another driver on a freeway.
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deadlocked 6-6 after two days of deliberations on a misdemeanor charge against Frank Bullington of drawing or exhibiting a firearm, prosecutors said.
Bullington, 32, of West Covina, was off duty when he allegedly waved his .45-caliber handgun at Nag Kan Nguyen during an argument at the side of the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway in El Monte in December 1998.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Judge Patti Jo McKay ordered attorneys to return to court March 9. The district attorney’s office said it will announce then whether it wants to retry the case.
Bullington has been on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case. El Monte police have completed an internal investigation and will not take any disciplinary action until the criminal matter is resolved, according to Assistant Chief Bill Ankeny.
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