Charges dropped against 6 USC students arrested at house party

Misdemeanor charges have been dropped against six USC students arrested during an off-campus house party in early May, authorities said Wednesday.

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office said charges were being dropped because of a lack of evidence.

There was no “reasonable likelihood of conviction,” City Atty. Carmen Trutanich said in a statement.

The students were arrested after a clash with Los Angeles Police Department officers at the May 4 party that was mostly attended by African American students.

The students alleged racial bias on the part of LAPD officers and said that police used heavy-handed tactics.

Police said they were called because of a noise complaint and that the situation escalated when a partygoer threw a bottle. Students said they did not throw any objects at officers.

The LAPD launched an internal investigation after the incident.

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