Jury Deadlocked in Botched Drug Raid Trial

ATLANTA -- A jury says it is deadlocked in the trial of an Atlanta police officer accused of helping cover up a botched drug raid in which a 92-year-old woman was killed inside her Neal Street home.

The jury, which has deliberated parts of three days, told a judge Monday afternoon that it can't reach consensus on the charges against Arthur Tesler.

Judge Michael Johnson told the jurors they must continue deliberating. He gave them until 5 p.m. to iron out their differences on the hung charges.

"You may again retire to your jury room, for a reasonable time, and examine your differences in a spirit of fairness and candor, and try to arrive at a verdict," Johnson said.

The judge was ready to accept whatever verdict -- even a partial one -- from the jury by 5 p.m.

But at about 4:50, the jury sent a message to the judge, asking to have the transcript of Arthur Tesler's testimony. Tesler was on the stand for nearly a full day last week.

The jury will receive those transcripts first thing Tuesday morning.

Tesler faces charges of violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process.

Tesler, who is on leave from the police force, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the three charges.

Two other officers involved in the Nov. 21, 2006, raid on Kathryn Johnston's home have pleaded guilty to state manslaughter and federal civil rights charges.