The jury is still out in the case against a 36-year-old Hutchinson man charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and drugs charges. They got the case against Troy Harris right at noon Wednesday, then began their deliberations after lunch. They went home for the night Wednesday and will resume their deliberations Thursday morning.

The trial ended with him taking the stand in his own defense where he denied knowing who Hutchinson Police Detective Pat Voth was and that he was a law enforcement officer.

Voth earlier testified that he identified himself as a law enforcement officer as Harris walked down 6th Street. Harris said he heard someone call his name but kept walking. Then Voth who was in an unmarked police car yelled “Troy Harris,” but again he kept walking, then at some point he says he ran because he didn’t know who it was in the car. He told the jury that he started down in an embankment of a drainage ditch and got his foot caught in what he said was a gopher hole. That’s when Detective Voth tackled him and the altercation began.

Harris denies that he choked the detective, in fact says the detective choked him to the point he thought he was going to pass out. He told the jury he kept thinking, “I have to get this guy off me.”

On cross, he even denied that the coat found where the altercation happened was his. He also denied that rolling papers found in his pant pocket were his.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell pointed out to him that he had met Voth at another man’s home in the past, so he knew who Voth was, but the defendant denied that. He also denied that he gave a false name to police which the state alleges.

Earlier, Dr. Jonathan Lowen testified to the fact that Voth injured his knee and required re-constructive surgery as a result. He described the detectives knee as “quite unstable.”

Harris arrest came back on November 28, 2011 at 6th & Keast. The defendant allegedly had drugs in the coat he denies were his, however it was found near his shoes.

Again, the jury is expected to resume their deliberations Thursday morning. Once we have a verdict, we’ll have the results on air or online at Hutchpost.com.