Trial dates have been set for a suspended Green Bay police officer accused of striking a man with a patrol car
GREEN BAY — A suspended Green Bay police officer pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of hitting a man with his patrol car during a 2021 stalking incident.
Matthew Knutson, 40, is charged with misconduct in public office for falsifying information in a report, a first-degree felony, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a first-degree misdemeanor. He appeared in court on Monday for trial.
On November 23, 2021, Knutson was patrolling Manitowoc Road and Bader Street in Green Bay when he saw a car enter the intersection without giving up, according to police. When the car did not stop, Knutsson chased after her in his squad car.
Then the driver left his car and ran away. A second officer arrived and started chasing the man on foot. Knutsson resumed following the man in his patrol car.
Video footage from Knutson’s patrol car dash shows the car hitting the fleeing man from behind. The man fell to the ground and the police arrested him.
Eleven months later, in October 2022, the Brown County District Attorney’s Office notified the police department of concerns about Knutson’s version of events, the police department said in a news release. The administration launched an investigation, and Knutson was placed on administrative leave that month.
Knutson’s next court appearance is a final pre-trial hearing at 1pm on October 17. A jury trial is scheduled for November 1-2.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ Arsenio Kelly.
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This article originally appeared on the Appleton Post-Crescent: Determining the trial of a Green Bay police officer accused of hitting a man with a car
