Man kicked by St. Paul police sentenced in unrelated assault

The man shown in a YouTube video being kicked by a St. Paul police officer was ordered Friday to serve 45 days in the Ramsey County workhouse for an unrelated case.

Eric R. Hightower, 32, of North St. Paul, was sentenced to one year and one day, which was stayed for five years, meaning he doesn't have to serve more than 45 days unless he violates probation.

Hightower pleaded guilty in July to third-degree assault for a 2011 incident. According to court documents, he punched a man in the face several times, knocking out his two front teeth.

Hightower was arrested by St. Paul police in August and charged with aggravated stalking, terroristic threats and property damage for allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend.

Prosecutor Laura Rosenthal asked Ramsey County District Judge Salvador Rosas to increase his time in the workhouse to 90 days because the new charges violated the terms of his plea agreement.

Rosas expressed concern with Hightower's history, but stuck with the initial deal of 45 days.

Hightower's latest arrest was filmed and posted on YouTube, where it garnered attention for the questionable use of police force. Officer Jesse Zilge was shown kicking him in the chest. Zilge and a second officer were shown slamming him onto the hood of a squad car.

Zilge and officer Matthew Gorans were placed on administrative leave and the Police Department is investigating.

The FBI reviewed the case and now considers it a "pending investigation," said FBI spokesman Kyle Loven, who declined to elaborate.

As part of his plea in the 2011 case, prosecutors dropped a separate 2011 case in which Hightower allegedly threatened residents when confronted over selling drugs in an alley.

CHAO XIONG