Burns Flat, OK – Burns Flat Police Chief Keith Smith was terminated Monday evening during a town hall meeting after being charged with two misdemeanor crimes stemming from an off duty traffic stop that allegedly escalated into a physical confrontation with a driver.
Smith faces one count of unlawful detention and one count of assault and battery. The charges were filed July 31 in Washita County.
According to court records, the alleged incident occurred in May while Smith was off duty and not wearing his police uniform. Investigators say Smith was driving a Burns Flat police vehicle when he observed what he believed to be a traffic violation and followed a female driver to her residence.
The driver reportedly called 911 after arriving home and locked her vehicle doors while waiting for assistance.
Court documents allege that after the driver briefly unlocked the vehicle to allow a friend inside, Smith entered the vehicle without legal authority and grabbed the driver's wrist. Investigators say Smith then issued a traffic citation before releasing the driver.
According to court records, Smith had originally intended to issue only a warning before the situation escalated.
The Washita County Sheriff's Office requested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conduct an independent investigation. After completing its investigation, the OSBI submitted its findings to the Washita County District Attorney's Office, which filed the misdemeanor charges.
Following Smith's termination Monday night, Burns Flat police officer Gary Neuwirth was appointed interim police chief.
The criminal case remains pending in Washita County.
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