Associated Press

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — A judge has granted a long delay in the trial of three Muncie police officers who were charged in an investigation of excessive force.

The federal trial has been moved to Sept. 21. The request was made by defense lawyers with no objections from prosecutors.

The trial had been planned for Feb. 22. But lawyers noted the risks of COVID-19 and the difficulty of having a “safe and efficient multi-defendant, multi-week trial" at that time, the Muncie Star Press reported.

Officers Chase Winkle and Jeremy Gibson are accused of using excessive force while making arrests in 2018 and 2019. Sgt. Joe Krejsa is accused of writing false reports. They've pleaded not guilty.

Judge Tanya Walton Pratt granted a defense request to postpone the trial — due to concerns related to COVID-19 — and rescheduled the three officers’ trial for Sept. 21.