Jury selected in Richmond obstruction-of-justice case

A jury was selected today for the case of three Richmond police officers charged with obstruction of justice.

Authorities have said that off-duty officer Ian McCloskey beat up a man in a bar in Shockoe Bottom on Jan. 22, 2008, and that responding officers Floyd T. Campbell II and William A. House tried to cover it up.

City prosecutors charged the three officers with obstruction of justice Dec. 18 and turned the case over to special prosecutor Thomas Shaia, a deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Spotsylvania County.

Richmond prosecutors initially charged McCloskey with misdemeanor assault in March 2008 and later had the charge dismissed after McCloskey agreed to pay $5,000 to cover the assault victim’s medical expenses. Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring said the alleged cover-up was brought to his attention after the assault charge against McCloskey was dismissed.

Opening arguments are to be made this afternoon in Richmond Circuit Court.