BREAKING: Judge Aquits 3 Chicago Police Officers Of Laquan McDonald Cover-up

A judge has found three Chicago police officers not guilty of covering up details in the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager. 

Former Detective David March, former Officer Joseph Walsh and Officer Thomas Gaffney had been accused of falsifying police reports to protect Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was found guilty in October of second-degree murder in McDonald's death.

They faced charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and obstruction of justice, but Cook County Associate Judge Domenica Stephenson said in her ruling the state had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers engaged in a conspiracy to prevent a criminal investigation, and acquitted the officers of all charges. 

Stephenson's ruling came more than a month after the officers' five-day bench trial ended. 

Todd Pugh, the attorney for Walsh, told reporters the judge displayed "courage and integrity" in her ruling.

"There never was a case here," Pugh said, "despite all of the interest that all you have, there never ever was a case." 

Walsh told reporters the ordeal had been "heart-wrenching." 

"Heartbreaking for my family," he said. "A year-and-a-half." 

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