Broken Arrow officer fired over parking violation flap caught on camera

By John Dobberstein, Editor

The city of Broken Arrow says a police officer has been fired after an internal review and investigation of an incident that occurred in late May.

Sgt. Michael Ferguson was terminated from his employment Tuesday after “a thorough and complete investigation” by the department’s internal affairs officers and a review of the findings by City Manager Michael Spurgeon’s office.

Neither the city or police department revealed more specifics about the termination, only saying the police department “will always strive to be forthcoming and transparent with our community.”

Broken Arrow police responded to the 1200 block of West Quincy Street on May 29 for a parking violation that had turned into a disturbance. A man who lived in a home claimed a landscape trailer was blocking his driveway, although the video showed it was not.

An officer at the scene told the man he was “detained” because a traffic violation was being investigated and police entered the man’s home to arrest him. The video can be viewed in its entirety here.

Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill said a routine report review led to the incident being reviewed by his office, and the officer was placed on leave per department policy and the city’s bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police. The department’s Office of Professional Standards began an internal investigation.

The Broken Arrow Police Department released body cam footage of the May 29 confrontation on June 5 and said an officer had been placed on administrative leave.

One additional officer may be facing discipline soon over another incident being investigated that originally led to 4 officers being put on paid leave, Spurgeon told KRMG last week during a radio show.