An Evansville Police officer faces a preliminary charge of Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon. WNIN’s John Gibson has the story:
The EPD says Officer Anthony Stephenson turned himself in at the Vanderburgh County jail one week after an incident outside the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge on Court Street.
After celebrating officers who had finished their probationary period, police say Stephenson was “highly intoxicated” and pulled a firearm and pointed it at an officer.
The EPD says he was not on duty and not in uniform at the time -- and the gun was not his department-issued weapon.
After pointing the gun, police say Stephenson got into the back seat of a vehicle.
The EPD says a witness confronted him and demanded that he turn over the firearm but he locked the gun in his own vehicle.
The EPD says say Stephenson later admitted what happened and was placed on leave.
The FOP notes it established sober rides to ensure the safety of all who attended the event.
Stephenson is now on unpaid leave and the Police Merit Commission will vote to determine Stephenson’s punishment, as well as his employment with the EPD.