GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay Police Officer Matthew Knutson made an initial court appearance today (Wednesday) for allegedly striking a suspect with his squad car in November 2021.
Knutson, 40, is charged with negligent operation of a vehicle and misconduct in office. A $2,500 signature bond was set. He returns to court June 16 for a balance of initial appearance.
While the incident happened in November 2021, the issue wasn’t brought to the department’s attention until October 2022. Knutson was placed on paid leave while the investigation took place.
The police department began an internal investigation, comparing body cam and dash cam video to Knutson’s official reports. The initial investigation uncovered problems with how Knutson’s patrol vehicle hit the suspect during a foot chase, forcing the suspect to the ground.
“When incidents like this happen, however this ends up in this case, that’s not a reflection on that day in and day out really good work that our members do,” Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis said at a news conference in April.
According to the criminal complaint, Knutson offered this description:
“As I accelerated to go up the slight incline at 2084 and pull into the grassy part of the front of the complex, the male then abruptly turned from the direction it appeared he was heading and instead ran to the west, cutting directly in front of me and causing me to make contact with the rear of his right leg on the front left corner of my squad. The speed of my squad is estimated at (less than) 5mph. The contact caused between my vehicle and the male was unintentional. It caused him to fall initially, but then get up and start running away again. As he got up and started running, I was able to exit my vehicle and get up to him. I could not see his hands, as they were in front of his torso as he was running away. His body was at an awkward position, where he was leaning forward as he was running, and I used his body being off balance and off center to decentralize him using two hands to push him on his back flat onto his stomach and chest and onto the grass. From that position, I was able to get his hands behind his back and into handcuffs,” the complaint quotes.
However, Knutson apparently didn’t include that in his initial report. “[RS]” are the initials of the suspect.
“Complainant would further note that Officer Knutson prepared and submitted a Use of Force Sheet for this incident, which Complainant knows is standard practice when an officer from the Green Bay Police Department uses force while apprehending a suspect. The Use of Force Sheet contains no mention of Knutson striking [RS] with his squad car, further indicating Knutson’s intention to suggest that he struck [RS] with the squad car accidentally, which appeared wholly inconsistent with the squad video,” the complaint states.
While Knutson claimed the suspect’s complaints about his leg hurting were due to his age and running, the camera footage did not back that up, according to the complaint.
Knutson told investigators “the act was stupid and inappropriate” but unintentional — something investigators dispute, according to the criminal complaint.
The charges filed against the suspect — resisting arrest and operating with a revoked license — were eventually dismissed as a part of a plea bargain which resulted in convictions in other cases, according to District Attorney David Lasee.
Knutson was previously suspended for 30 days in 2018 following an investigation into bullying and harassment within the police department.
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