Former San Rafael Cop Acquitted in New Year's Eve Assault

A Sonoma County jury this morning acquitted Petaluma resident and former San Rafael police officer Michael Augustus of assaulting two men with a firearm while off duty at a downtown restaurant last New Year's Eve.

The jury returned its verdict after deliberating Thursday until 6 p.m. and this morning until around 10 a.m.

Augustus, 44, sobbed as the decision was read.

He was fired from the following the incident at in Petaluma on Dec. 31, 2010 in which he yelled an obscenity at two men and , according to Petaluma police.

Augustus had been charged with two counts of felony assault with a firearm and making criminal threats, but the assault charges were later converted to misdemeanors and the threats charge dismissed.

The San Rafael Police Department of 16 years in May.

Augustus's attorney Christopher Shea said his client would try to get his job back following this morning's decision.

“We’ve put the brakes on this runaway train that so impacted his life, but he still has a fight in front of him and that’s to get his job back,” Shea said.

Bay City News contributed to this report.