Two Honolulu police officers arrested Friday are innocent of allegations they forced a man to lick a urinal, a defense attorney said.
Officers John Rabago and Reginald Ramones were charged with depriving a man of his civil rights.
Federal authorities knew about the allegations for more than a year before the officers were indicted, said Rabago's defense attorney, Megan Kau.
"This is not a complicated case," she said. "This is a case of one man saying that two police officers forced him to a lick a toilet bowl."
Authorities allege Rabago and Ramones responded to a trespassing complaint where they came across the victim and forced him to lick a urinal in a public restroom, according to NBC News.
Both officers maintain their innocence and will go to trial to fight the charges, Kau said. Lynn Panagakos, Ramones' attorney, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
"While this morning's arrests cast a dark shadow on the department, I ask that the public please continue to support the officers who carry out their daily assignments with courage, integrity, and respect for the public," Chief Susan Ballard said in a statement. "The two officers who were arrested will have their day in court and be held accountable for their actions."
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The department placed Rabago, who has 17 years of service, and Ramones, who has 10 years of service, on unpaid leave.