Aurora – An Aurora police officer was charged Wednesday with felony menacing for allegedly pointing a revolver at a handcuffed man in a police cruiser.
Officer Chris Stine, 28, will get a summons to appear in court on Nov. 4 to address the Class 5 felony charges that carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Because he is accused of a felony, Stine will be placed on administrative leave without pay until the matter is resolved. If he is acquitted or the charge is reduced to a misdemeanor, Stine can get his job back. If he is convicted of a felony, he will be fired, according to Aurora’s charter.
The incident stems from an arrest in the early-morning hours of Aug. 6, when an off-duty police officer working security at the International House of Pancakes on Mississippi Avenue called for backup after a fight broke out at the restaurant. Suspects drove away, and one was seen carrying a gun.
Officers, including Stine, responded to the scene and caught Virgil Lee Anderson, 22. A gun was found nearby. Anderson was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, illegal possession of a handgun and assault.
Other officers later reported that Stine was seen pointing the gun at Anderson while he was in the cruiser. Anderson never said anything about the gun, but an investigation was initiated.
Stine told detectives he was showing the gun to Anderson to see if he would admit that it was his, according to previous reports. But the matter was handed over to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which filed charges.
Neither Stine nor his attorney could be reached for comment Wednesday.
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1175 or jmeyer@denverpost.com.
