ST. LOUIS – A former Illinois police officer admitted in federal court Thursday to assaulting a handcuffed man.

Justin Gaither, 34, who previously worked for the Venice Police Department, confessed in court that in November 2022 he and another officer from the Brooklyn (Illinois) Police Department pursued a car with a stolen license plate.

The suspect’s vehicle drove over spike strips that Gaither placed and further traveled over McKinley Bridge and into St. Louis.

The pursuit ended in the 3800 block of Parnell Avenue in St. Louis. Everyone in the suspect vehicle fled on foot.

The Brooklyn officer’s K9 chased and bit the driver of the vehicle while climbing over a fence. The driver was then handcuffed by the Brooklyn officer, and Gaither escorted him to a police car.

According to the plea agreement from Gaither’s confession, the former Venice officer struck the driver twice in the face. The driver suffered a broken nose.

Gaither pleaded to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force.

Gaither will be sentenced on May 2. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.