Vermont state trooper pleads not guilty to assault

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont State Police trooper accused of striking a handcuffed suspect multiple times in the head during a struggle has pleaded not guilty to simple assault.

The attorney general’s office says Robert Zink, 39, of Arlington, was arraigned Monday.

The investigation into Zink’s use of force began after another trooper raised concerns about it.

Police say Zink’s use of force happened after the suspect had driven off the road, was suspected of drunken driving and was combative with troopers who tried to take him into custody on Feb. 23.

Zink’s attorney says that what Zink did “in no way, shape or form constitutes criminal conduct.”

2 Vermont officers charged in separate cases with assault