A second-degree assault case has been filed against two U.S. police because a 75-year-old guard was pushed to the ground and seriously injured.
Aaron Torgalski, 32, and Robert McCabe, 32, pleaded not guilty in Buffalo, New York. He was released without bail and jailed for seven years.
On Thursday, they were seen backing up on the sidewalk and pushing Martin Gugino, who started bleeding.
He is in critical condition at a local hospital.
Two officers imposed a curfew in the city following protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last month.
Emergency Response Team members Aaron Torgalski and Robert McKay were suspended without pay as footage of the incident outside City Hall went viral.
Seventy-five of his associates - the entire unit - later resigned from the team in response to the suspension of officers.
On Saturday, more than 100 supporters - including police officers and firefighters - protested outside the campus on the buffalo.
What do buffalo prosecutors say?
In a statement, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said: "Two defendants who were Buffalo police officers pushed a demonstrator outside City Hall. It fell and hit his head on the sidewalk."
He insisted he was not taking sides in the high-profile case.
"We're all in the same team here. We all work every day to do justice, to keep our roads safe, to keep our communities safe.
Flynn said, "I am a partner in law enforcement every day to do this. When I have to prosecute one of my partners, it doesn't help the situation."
What is the response?
John Evans, president of the local police union, told the Buffalo News newspaper, "It is our position that these officers are following the orders of Deputy Police Commissioner Joseph Gramalia to evacuate the square.
"It's not clear whether the men's classes are 50 and under, or 15 to 40. They're just doing their job. I don't know how much contact is made. They slip by my estimation. He's fallen behind."
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