GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Green Bay police officer is expected to be charged in connection with his actions during a traffic stop in 2021.
The police department says Officer Matthew Knutson, a 13-year veteran of the department, made a traffic stop on the city’s southeast side in November 2021. A 47-year-old Green Bay man was pulled over for failure to yield right of way.
Nearly a year later, last October, the Brown County District Attorney’s Office notified police of concerns around Knutson’s actions during the traffic stop. 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.
Knutson was placed on administrative leave last Oct. 22, and Chief Chris Davis requested the Brown County Sheriff’s Office conduct an investigation.
According to the police department, Knutson is expected to be charged with a felony count of misconduct in public office and a misdemeanor charge of negligent operation of a vehicle. Online court records do not indicate any charges have been filed yet.
“We take all allegations of misconduct by Green Bay Police officers seriously, and I am committed to handling them in a way that is objective, thorough, and fair to all involved,” Davis said in a news release. “I made it clear from the beginning of my time here, and I reiterate again, that I will not tolerate excessive force, ethical violations, or criminal activity by GBPD members. However, in our system of justice, people accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty. Officer Matthew Knutson has the same due process rights as any other defendant in a criminal matter.”
The Green Bay Police Department has called a news conference for 11:45 a.m. to discuss the case. Watch live on fox11online.com.
