Traverse City Cop Cleared In Case Of Drunken Official

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - A jury has acquitted a high-ranking Traverse City police officer who was accused of going easy on a city manager who was extremely drunk at his home.

Capt. Mike Ayling was charged with willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor, but a jury found him not guilty Wednesday after discussing the case for about 35 minutes.

There is no dispute that Jered Ottenwess was drunk when officers arrived at his home in February. Ayling considered it a medical emergency at the time, not a crime, despite allegations of domestic violence.

Ottenwess resigned as Traverse City's city manager and pleaded no contest to misdemeanors related to the incident.

Ayling declined to comment on the verdict. He'll remain on paid leave while the city conducts an internal probe.

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