May 22--A former Valley Brook police officer testified Monday that he feared for his life the night a decorated Oklahoma City police detective nearly hit him with his truck.
Shelby N. Field told a jury he arrested Detective Chuck Wheeler on Sept. 26, 2009, because he thought Wheeler was intoxicated when he honked and swerved while Field was making a traffic stop.
"I was in fear for my life from almost getting hit," Field told a jury in Oklahoma County District Judge Lisa Davis' courtroom. "I was amped up because I was assaulted by Mr. Wheeler."
Wheeler was driving to a club to go dancing with his wife and another couple on Sept. 26, 2009, when he was pulled over by Field in the 4800 block of S. Eastern.
His attorneys allege Field -- who claims Wheeler grazed his left arm -- had no legal authority to detain their client and acted without probable cause.
A civil petition, filed in July 2010, also alleges that Field was unnecessarily physically and verbally abusive toward Wheeler.
Wheeler's attorney, Scott Adams, told the jury in his opening statements that Wheeler hit his horn as if to say 'I see you,' and turned his car slightly to the left to avoid Field, who had pulled over a woman for speeding.
"Officer Field had absolutely zero authority to do what he did," attorney Scott Adams told the jury during opening statements."
The attorney for Field, who left the Valley Brook police department in 2010 and is unemployed, told the jury that the area where Wheeler was stopped is not well-lighted and is known for bars and drunken drivers.
He said Wheeler got out of his truck after being stopped in the club parking lot and continued walking toward Field until he was within a foot of the officer, despite being told more than once to get back in his truck.
"Cops don't like that," Field's attorney, David Kirk, said. "They both know that's within the zone of danger."
When Fields pushed the officer in the chest to back him up, Wheeler pushed his hands away, which constituted assault and battery, Kirk said.
"He cuffed him for his own safety," the attorney said.
Field testified that he didn't call Oklahoma City Police to report the arrest once he found out Wheeler was a detective.
Field also said that he did not notify Valley Brook dispatch that he had been hit by a truck or was in pursuit of Wheeler's vehicle.
A passenger in the detective's truck testified that Field used expletives toward Wheeler and his wife before placing him in handcuffs and taking him to jail, where he spent the next three hours, despite not being charged with a crime or receiving a breathalyzer to determine if he was driving under the influence, according to testimony.
"Vickie was nervous and shaking, her voice was cracking," said Kelly Pinion, who was riding in Wheeler's truck along with her husband and Wheeler's wife.
The jury in the civil case will decide whether Wheeler is entitled to receive compensatory and punitive damages for pain and suffering associated with the traffic stop.
Wheeler is a nearly 28-year veteran of the police department.
Wheeler received the medal of valor following the Federal Building bombing.
Copyright 2012 - The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City
