A former Weston police officer is accused of illegally punching a motorist after a DWI stop in August.
Brinlee Ray Acklin, 24, has been charged with misdemeanor assault after he allegedly told the motorist he would “punch him in the face” and then allegedly did so. Acklin no longer works for the Weston Police Department.
“We expect a lot from police officers, who often perform their duties in dangerous situations,” said prosecuting attorney Eric Zahnd. “It’s a very serious matter when we believe a police officer has violated the duty to serve and protect the public.”
According to court documents, on Aug. 5 at about 7:35 p.m., Acklin was dispatched to check the welfare of a motorist who was parked in the middle of Welt Street in Weston and may have passed out behind the wheel.
Acklin believed the motorist may have been impaired and asked him to get into the back seat of his patrol car, and the motorist did so. Because it was hot outside, Acklin had rolled down the back window of the patrol car.
When the motorist allegedly became noncompliant with Acklin’s requests, Acklin tried to roll up the window of the patrol car. Acklin could not do so because the motorist stuck his torso out the window.
Court documents allege Acklin then told the motorist, “If you don’t get in the car, I’m going to hit you in the face.” The motorist allegedly responded, “Do it.” When the motorist again stuck his torso out of the window, Acklin allegedly struck the motorist in the face with a closed fist.
As Acklin was walking away, court documents allege he said, “That wasn’t excessive, was it.”
Acklin used his cell phone to record the encounter with the suspect, and court documents indicate the incident was captured by that cell phone video, which was provided to the prosecuting attorney’s office by the Weston Police Department as part of the DWI investigation.
“It’s never a good day when we must charge a police officer with a crime, especially when we allege that crime was committed while on the job,” Zahnd said. “However, I commend the Platte County Sheriff’s Department for completing an independent, fair and comprehensive investigation.”