Hastings police officer found not guilty in corkscrew theft case

Hastings police officer Rene Doffing was found not guilty of two counts of theft in connection with a corkscrew theft case.

The jurors deciding the case announced just before 11 a.m. they had reached the verdict just before 11 a.m. Thursday, July 19. The decision was read in court at 11:15 a.m.

"We are elated with the verdict," said Doffing's attorney, Paul Engh, after the verdict was read. "We're quite pleased officer Doffing can get back to his full duties as a patrol officer."

Doffing was accused of stealing a corkscrew from a Hastings restaurant on Nov. 22, 2010. He was charged with two counts of theft – the first count asserts Doffing stole the corkscrew and intended to permanently deprive the corkscrew from it's owner, the restaurant. The second count asserts Doffing stole the corkscrew and intended to temporarily deprive it from its owner.

Jurors began deliberations at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, after roughly a day and a half of testimony.

It is expected that Doffing will be behind the wheel of a patrol car in a matter of days.

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime