UPDATE: April 17 at 3 p.m.
A Boyle County jury found a Kentucky man not guilty of reckless driving on Friday, while a judge dismissed his remaining charges following a controversial traffic stop involving a Kentucky State Police trooper.
Devin Langsdorf was arrested in June 2025 after KSP Trooper Seth Owens pulled him over on US-150 for suspected speeding and swerving. Langsdorf originally faced charges of speeding, reckless driving, and resisting arrest.
After six hours of testimony, cross-examination, and deliberation, a six-person jury found Langsdorf not guilty of reckless driving. The judge issued a direct verdict clearing Langsdorf of the speeding and resisting arrest charges, citing a lack of evidence.
"Feeling really good. Feeling honestly it's a really good outcome on this," Langsdorf said.
"Yes we did. We worked very hard on those case and I didn't believe the evidence was there for any of the charges," Attorney Ephraim Helton said.
Body, dash, and rear camera footage showed Owens trying to get Langsdorf out of his vehicle. Once Langsdorf exited, Owens leg-whipped him to the ground, punched him, and kneed him seven times.
Langsdorf said he required rotator cuff surgery and suffers from PTSD following the incident. He is considering moving his family back to Ohio to avoid a similar encounter.
During cross-examination, Owens testified he did not lose his temper. However, he could not recall telling Langsdorf he was under arrest and admitted to violating two Kentucky statutes and Kentucky State Police protocol.
"Number one the manner in which you place someone under arrest and you have to notify them of that," Helton said.
"He said Devin was belligerent. How was he belligerent? He couldn't articulate that. He said Devin used foul language and cuss words, well what were they? Well I don't remember that," Helton said.
"Yes I'm very happy the system worked. The judge and the jury showed our system works," Langsdorf said.
"You don't resolve issues on the side of the road with law enforcement or anybody else. You solve issues in the courthouse and that's where issues need to be resolved," Helton said.
Original Story:
Newly released body camera and dashcam video from a June traffic stop in Boyle County shows a routine speeding stop escalating into what an attorney alleges was excessive use of force by a Kentucky State Police trooper.
The footage shows 32-year-old Devin Langsdorf being ordered to the ground by Trooper Seth Owens – before being leg-swept, kneed, and punched, all while his 3-year-old daughter sat in the back seat of his vehicle.
According to the arrest citation, Langsdorf was pulled over on June 6 along U.S. 150 for allegedly driving 86 mph in a 55 mph zone. The citation claims he became agitated, lacked proof of insurance, and refused to exit his vehicle.
But Danville attorney Ephraim Helton, who represents Langsdorf, says the charges were overblown — pointing out that discovery in the case confirmed his client did have valid insurance and registration that day.
"They had literally thrown the book at him," Helton said. "One, he had insurance — he should have never been charged with that. Two, he had current registration, and interestingly, the officer even wrote it on the citation."
See the full body cam footage below:
In bodycam footage, Trooper Owens can be heard ordering Langsdorf to the ground. Langsdorf responds, “I’m not getting on the ground,” before Owens appears to leg whip him down. As the struggle continues, Owens knees and punches Langsdorf, who says he cannot get his hand behind his back due to pain.
"Maybe it was reluctant, but he gets out of the vehicle — then he’s leg whipped. Why do you do that when someone is already out of the vehicle?" Helton asked. Owens is also heard warning that if necessary, cabinet officials would remove Langsdorf’s daughter from the car.
Helton says the altercation left Langsdorf with a torn rib cartilage, a torn bursa sac in his right shoulder, and rotator cuff tears. He is currently undergoing physical therapy and may need surgery.
"Trooper Owens needs to be placed on administrative leave immediately," Helton said. "If you can’t control your temper during a traffic stop, think how you’d react in a truly hostile situation. That is scary."Langsdorf was charged with speeding, reckless driving, failure to show proof of insurance, endangering the welfare of a minor, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. His attorney disputes the validity of several of those charges.
LEX 18 has reached out to Kentucky State Police for comment and has not yet received a response.
Langsdorf has a trial hearing scheduled for April 17, 2026.
