Starkville aldermen could soon decide the employment fate of a police officer accused of drawing his weapon on a 23-year-old man in November.
Aldermen took no action on the personnel matter Tuesday after seven people, including family members of Walter Quantez O’Bryant, demanded justice from the board after they said a Starkville officer escalated a detention last month.
Board members and Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols declined to comment on the ongoing issue — nor did they name the officer involved — but O’Bryant and his family members said Nichols gave them a letter stating he recommends the officer be terminated from his post after failing to adhere to proper police procedures.
A copy of the document was unavailable for inspection Tuesday.
O’Bryant told The Dispatch he was walking across Sitel’s parking lot on Nov. 23 when a police officer arrived at the business, exited his vehicle, pointed a rifle at him and ordered him to the ground.
He was visiting his girlfriend at the business when the officer arrived, he said.
It is believed Starkville Police Department was responding to a disturbance in the area, one in which it was not clear if the suspect was armed.
O’Bryant said he was not charged in the incident.
The Dispatch was unable to corroborate O’Bryant’s claims Tuesday night as officials declined to comment on the incident.
“I’m trying to tell him I’m not the guy he’s looking for. The first thing he did when he got out of the car was cock his rifle,” he said. “They said he violated procedure. I was told that by Chief Nichols. They brought me a letter.”
Since the incident, O’Bryant said he’s gone to the doctor because of sleep issues and hopes to see a psychologist soon.
No legal action has been taken against the city, but family members said they are “waiting to see what happens” in regard to the officer’s employment fate at the next board of aldermen meeting.
“It’s very disturbing to me. My son, he had no idea of what was going on. He wasn’t there when the incident took place,” said his father, who is also named Walter O’Bryant. “I respect the law. I know they have a job to do. They have to protect themselves. But for him to come up … not only to draw your gun and cock your gun — I don’t think that was necessary, especially when he’s in compliance with everything you’re telling him to do.”
O’Bryant’s father also confirmed receipt of the letter from the police department.
“They gave us a letter, but we haven’t seen anything else. We requested to see (body camera footage) at the last board meeting,” he said. “Chief Nichols said what his recommendation was — termination — because of the procedure he used to handle the situation…I thank God that nothing did happen, but he did pull his weapon.”
Speaking during Tuesday’s public comment period, numerous O’Bryant supporters said the board should follow Nichols’ recommendation. One woman also said she alerted the U.S. Department of Justice to the situation.
“We just want you to do the right thing,” said Oktibbeha County NAACP Chairman Chris Taylor. “There’s seven of you that were voted in to do that right thing, to make the tough decisions. The whole community (will be) looking at you when you take that vote in a couple of weeks.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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