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Omaha police excuse officer's punches during school fight

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Police Department has determined that an officer's use of force was justified as he tried to break up a high school fight last month.

The department excused Officer Nick Caniglia for punching a Millard South High School student multiple times Dec. 17.

Video footage examined during the investigation shows Caniglia intervening with the fight and getting punched in the head by the 17-year-old student.

Canglia responded with punches, ordered the student to the ground and handcuffed him.

The department says the students involved were attempting to cause injury and that the fight was ongoing when Canglia intervened, despite numerous attempts to stop it.

The student who punched Canglia wasn't charged for assault on an officer because the student confessed, saying he wasn't aware he was hitting an officer.

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