Broken Arrow police share update on incident between officer, dog

By John Dobberstein, Editor

Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill updated the public Thursday on the controversial incident involving the department's officer and a loose dog, calling it a "unique and concerning" encounter.

Berryhill said the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office conducted a criminal investigation of the Aug. 28 matter, which happened outside the Broken Arrow city limits, and the results have been presented to the Wagoner County District Attorney's Office. There was no word late Thursday on whether charges would be authorized. 

The officer depicted in a video of the incident, Roy Golden, was placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy while the Office of Professional Standards conducts its internal investigation. Berryhill said OPS will take the findings of the Wagoner County case into consideration as it completes its investigation. 

Berryhill said the results of the internal investigation will be presented by OPS to Berryhill and City Manager Michael Spurgeon.  

"I view the actions of the officer depicted in this video as serious and I have impressed up on my staff the importance and expectation of a thorough and transparent investigation," Berryhill said Thursday. "We appreciate your patience and understanding to allow the appropriate amount of time that is necessary to investigate this unique and concerning incident. 

"We are committed to providing every citizen with respect and will always hold or own accountable for their actions in and out of uniform. (The BAPD) and myself share your concern and sympathy towards members of community that have been impacted by this incident."

Spurgeon told KRMG last week during a regular radio show that he was aware of the incident and that it concerned him, but he would need to have all the facts to make any decisions about the officer's status. 

Residents in the neighborhood where this incident occurred said the police officer tased and pepper-sprayed the loose dog that jumped in his vehicle the morning of Aug. 28. 

Two videos surfaced on Facebook and TikTok about part of the incident. One video on Facebook taken by a neighbor shows a Broken Arrow Police Department officer pursuing a loose dog around his vehicle and spraying it with mace or pepper spray.

An attorney for Golden told KJRH that the officer was trying to protect his family and admitted to tasing and pepper-spraying the dog, but the department's use-of-force policy would play an important role in the investigation.

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