Oklahoma Hero Pummels Man With Shotgun

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Officer With History Of Violence Charged With Felony Assault

denton

An Owasso, Oklahoma police officer is facing charges after beating a suspect with his shotgun. Back in June, police officers were chasing Cody Matthews who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. After the chase ended, officer removed Matthews from the pickup truck and threw him on the ground.

Cody Matthews

Owasso Police Lt. Mike Denton began violently beating Matthews in the head with the butt of his department issued shotgun. In all, Matthews received several blows to the face and head.  Lt. Mike Denton was suspended for one week due to the incident.

Lt. Mike Denton has now been charged with felony assault and battery and misdemeanor reckless conduct with a firearm.

This horrific incident could have been a perfect opportunity for the elusive “good cop” we keep hearing so much about. In fact, one of the officers realized that Lt. Denton crossed the line and pulled him back away from Matthews. However, dreams of finding a “good cop” diminish when one reads the officer’s statement, which said that “the suspect was still resisting after they forced him to the ground.” Of course, the video disproved his statement and neither his superiors or the prosecuting attorney believe a single word of it.

This wasn’t the first time that Lt. Mike Denton has been in trouble for excessive force. Back in 2011, he was actually fired from Owasso Police Department for violating the department’s “use of force” policy. Denton stepped on the head of a Collinsville man who was arrested on a public intoxication complaint on June 30, 2011.

However, Arbitrator Edward Valverde ruled in 2012 that Denton should be reinstated, saying that although the officer used unreasonable and unnecessary force, his actions “did not rise to the level of excessive force within the meaning of existing case law.” Lt. Denton was given his old job back with the department in 2014, along with a whopping  $283,420.04 in benefits relating to base pay, vacation, sickness and health.

2 COMMENTS

  1. An absolute knackered shambles, the states is. Best thing might be to leave it be and stop looking at it.

    I feel rather like that botanist in Saving Astronaut Ryan, the only human being in the world. Desperately trying to raise my crops and colonize a hostile and deadly alien world utterly bereft of any kind of authentic humanity, except in the form of data sent from overseas and space millions and millions of miles away.

    Round these parts, natives also keep themselves calm and live their drama UK style, since there’s still some hope for them blokes in their colonies all the world round.

    Don’t Be Down – Panda’s Song For Effy – Skins UK TV Series
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS9LouGGhmM

    Some days are disasters that you wish could just end. Other days are bastards, just like a bad boyfriend. But it makes me feel much worse than this to see your face smile with a frown.
    I’m not telling you to smile, but don’t be down.

    Don’t be down, my friend! Don’t do your wrists any harm! You don’t belong on a funny farm. And I’d rather see you in a party dress than in a hospital gown. I’m not telling you to smile, but don’t be down.

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