Green Bay Police Officer Matthew Knutson appears in court May 17, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Green Bay police officer accused of striking a fleeing suspect with his squad car and then not properly reporting the incident pleaded not guilty Monday.
Matthew Knutson, 40, is charged with negligent operation of a vehicle and misconduct in office. The charges stemmed from an internal police department investigation into a November 2021 incident. Police said they didn’t know the suspect was hit with the vehicle until October 2022. Comparing body cam and dash cam video to Knutson’s official reports, police said their investigation uncovered problems with how Knutson’s patrol vehicle hit the suspect during a foot chase, forcing the suspect to the ground.
Trial was set for Nov. 1.
The charges filed against the suspect for the 2021 incident — 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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