A veteran Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division captain accused of drunk driving repeatedly requested a fellow officer to show off his physique digicam in order that they might "speak" earlier than he was arrested, video of the incident exhibits.
Capt. James "Matt" French was arrested on a DUI cost after Sergeant Chris Skinner of the Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division pulled French over for "swerving" and driving at a "excessive price of pace" early Sunday morning, authorities mentioned.
Physique digicam footage launched this week by the division exhibits French along with his fingers up exterior his unmarked, city-assigned SUV within the driveway of a house the place he mentioned he lived. Skinner approached him and instructed him to get again within the automobile.
When French was requested whether or not he had been ingesting, he responded: "I am a captain of the police division" and whispered for Skinner to "flip the digicam off," the footage exhibits.
"Flip the digicam off, please," French pleaded after he was requested how a lot he needed to drink.
Skinner instructed French, "I am not turning my digicam off," as he then directed him to step out of his automobile. "You've got gotta be kidding me," Skinner added.
Throughout questioning, French admitted he had been at a poker recreation and that he had drank three or 4 beers, the video exhibits.
When Skinner requested French to do a sobriety check, French once more requested, "Sir, can- are you able to flip that off?"
"I do know you're conscious of our physique cam coverage," the sergeant instructed French. "You recognize I can not flip off this physique cam."
French then mentioned, "I do, however I would like to speak to you."
"Will you please speak to me? You possibly can flip it off and switch it on," French added. Sgt. Skinner refused.
French, a 32-year-old veteran of the Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division, once more instructed the officer that he was a captain.
"I perceive that, and I'm a sergeant," Skinner mentioned. "I've taken an oath to uphold the regulation. I do not present favoritism to anybody regardless. I do not care if you're a gangbanger or the president of the USA."
French was later put in handcuffs and arrested.
Oklahoma Metropolis Police Chief Wade Gourley praised Skinner for his actions throughout a press convention, saying that he "did precisely as he ought to have, and dealt with it very professionally in my view."
"I am happy with the way in which that our officers handled it on the scene," Gourley mentioned. "I hate that we're on this place. I hate it for Captain French. I hate it for our group."
Gourley mentioned that the division will launch an administrative investigation into the matter following the prison investigation. The division put French on administrative go away with pay after his arrest.
French didn't instantly reply to a request for remark by Insider on Friday.
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