Aurora – A police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after he allegedly pointed a gun at a handcuffed suspect in a squad car on Saturday, police say.
Another Aurora officer reported him to a supervisor, Aurora Interim Police Chief Terry Jones said.
Sources confirmed that officer Chris Stine is accused of pointing the gun.
The officer told detectives he was showing a gun to the suspect to see if he would admit it was his, Jones said Wednesday.
Police are investigating a possible menacing case against the officer, Jones said. The incident also will be reviewed for possible disciplinary action.
Detectives will hand the case to the 18th Judicial District as early as today, Jones said. If charges are filed, Stine will be placed on unpaid leave until the case is resolved.
“An objective investigation should show that there was no misconduct here,” said the officer’s attorney, Doug Jewell.
The incident began when an off-duty officer, working security at the International House of Pancakes on Mississippi Avenue, called for backup at 4:15 a.m. Saturday after a fight broke out.
Several suspects ran or drove away, and the off-duty officer reported that one had a gun.
Officers, including Stine, responded. Police arrested the suspect believed to be armed and found a gun nearby. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, illegal possession of a handgun and assault.
The suspect did not say anything about the gun incident until detectives asked him about it, said Sgt. Rudy Herrera, Aurora police spokesman.
Stine has five years’ experience with Aurora, and Jones said he could not comment on whether he had been disciplined before.
The Saturday incident is the latest in a string of recent cases that have hurt the reputation of Aurora police.
This week, three women who were assaulted by serial rapist Brent J. Brents filed notices that they intend to sue, alleging police could have arrested Brents before their assaults but failed to do so. The police chief stepped down during the fallout, and the city manager and his deputy were suspended.
Danon Gale has filed an intent to sue, claiming he was needlessly subdued with a Taser at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in February. Some community members claimed a Taser was used only because Gale is black.
In March, Aurora police officer Ron Kuntz held a SWAT team at bay for four hours after becoming distraught about a demotion.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
