The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations has confirmed a second investigation into a Watonga police officer.
This case centers on actions captured on the officer’s body camera on June 2 when police were called to assist with an unruly patient who was refusing transport. The patient, 15 at the time, is reported to have autism and was in the midst of a meltdown. He threatened to harm or had harmed those around him as well as threatened to harm himself.
The patient’s parent called 9-1-1 and both medical personnel and police responded. The body camera tape appears to show the officer striking the patient after he is placed in handcuffs.
The officer had been on administrative leave from the city police department, but confirmed to the Republican Tuesday that he had been fired. No confirmation had been received from the interim city manager as of press time.
As in an earlier case involving the same officer, the investigation, once completed, will be turned over to the district attorney for Blaine County. That office will determine whether to press criminal charges against the officer. Even without criminal charges, the officer and the city could still be named in one or more civil suits.
As there have been no charges filed in either case, this news report does not name the officer