Sandy MaloneContra Costa County, CA – A former Antioch police officer has been charged with assault in connection with a July of 2022 traffic stop that ultimately got him fired (video below).
The incident occurred on July 1, 2022 when then-Antioch Police Officer Matthew Nutt stopped a vehicle that had no license plates, CBS News reported.
The passenger in the vehicle had warrants so Officer Nutt took him into custody.
Bodycam video showed the passenger initially refused to get out of the vehicle, CBS News reported.
Officer Nutt put handcuffs on the fugitive and attempted to place him in the back of his patrol vehicle, but the suspect resisted.
The officer took the suspect to the ground to gain control of him and then told him that he’d take him down again harder if he didn’t get into the back of the patrol vehicle, the video showed.
The suspect got up but when he got to the car, he refused to sit down and Officer Nutt “used force against the arrestee, consisting of a series of punches and kicks, along with knee and elbow strikes,” according to the Antioch Police Department (APD).
Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford reviewed the bodycam video of the incident and investigation report conducted by internal affairs, CBS News reported.
Chief Ford said the internal investigation determined that Officer Nutt had violated use-of-force policies by using unreasonable force, failing to de-escalate and failing to use alternative tactics.
Officer Nutt was fired on April 21, CBS News reported.
Chief Ford and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office announced charges against now-former Officer Nutt on June 14.
“Police officers are entrusted with the authority to use reasonable force to protect the public and themselves in the lawful performance of their duties,” the police chief said. “This requires close supervision and evaluation to maintain public legitimacy and preserve the sanctity of human life.”
“The Antioch Police Department is committed to accountability and full transparency – my hope is our community will see the actions of our personnel to investigate and bring this matter to my attention as an expression of their commitment to accountability and the core tenants of their oath,” he continued. “This unfortunate incident is not reflective of the women and men who serve our community – please join me in continuing to offer our support of their hard work.”
Chief Ford released the investigative report and the bodycam video of Officer Nutt’s interaction with the man in handcuffs when the charges against the former officer were announced, CBS News reported.
Nutt has been charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with the incident.
The police department said the now-former officer worked for the Antioch police for four years before he was terminated.
Prior to joining the Antioch police, he worked as an officer for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for two years, CBS News reported.
No information on why he left LAPD has been made available thus far.
Officer Nutt was also one of the officers who was named as a recipient of some racist text message in a department-wide scandal that rocked the Antioch police recently.
However, internal affairs determined that Nutt had not responded or reacted to any of the inappropriate messages he had received and so, he was not disciplined, CBS News reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content and Obscene Language:
#NEW Antioch Police release bodycam footage of a July 2022 traffic stop by former officer Matthew Nutt. He was fired in April after a months long investigation determined he violated use of force policies. The DA has now charged him w/ misdemeanor assault. pic.twitter.com/dkI6XlPOY4
— Pete Suratos (@PeteSuratosTV) June 16, 2023
Holly Matkin
