By Cassi Lapp
BELLA VISTA — Two police officers have been accused of using excessive force during a traffic stop Tuesday night.
Aaron Moneypenny, 21, of Clarksville claimed the two officers held guns to his and his two passengers’ heads. No complaint has been filed, but Capt. Tim Cook said he was contacted by Heidi King, Moneypenny’s sister.
Officer Scott Vanatta stopped a 2005 Ford Econoline 350 for a traffic violation near the intersection of Bella Vista Way and Pinion Valley Road about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The vehicle was occupied by Moneypenny and two boys ages 16 and 17. Moneypenny, the driver, said the boys were his nephews.
The dash-camera video from Vanatta’s cruiser shows Moneypenny being instructed to get out of the vehicle. Moneypenny then sits on the rear bumper of the van. No weapons were drawn.
Capt. Tim Cook said officers use this procedure to separate a vehicle’s occupants from one another.
The van’s license plate information was given to a dispatcher, but the dispatcher entered it wrong into a database, Cook said. A dispatcher told Vanatta the number was for a stolen vehicle out of Clarksville.
“The mistake was made in dispatch. It just so happened (the incorrect number) fell on a stolen tag,” Cook said.
The video shows Vanatta handcuffing Moneypenny and instructing him to get on his knees. The officer then draws his weapon without pointing it at Moneypenny. Vanatta and Officer Travis Trammel, who arrived as backup, ordered the two boys out of the van.
The two can be seen leaving the vehicle one at a time and being handcuffed. There is no indication on the video of where the officers were pointing their weapons.
“The officers held their weapons at a low-ready tactical position while they ordered the others out and handcuffed them,” Cook said, adding the information came from the officers’ statements.
Sgt. Clayton Roberts arrived and the two boys were taken to Trammel’s and Roberts’ vehicles, Cook said.
The video shows Moneypenny waiting on his knees in front of Vanatta’s vehicle while the others are detained.
Officers then called in the vehicle identification number to dispatch, and it was determined the van wasn’t stolen. The tag on the van, however, belonged to Moneypenny but wasn’t registered to the vehicle.
Cook said the report stated Moneypenny didn’t have the money to pay sales tax on the van so he used a plate from another vehicle.
“Times have been tough. We’re in a drought; we’re in the gutter business,” Moneypenny said.
Moneypenny was released after verbal warnings for no seat belt, fictitious vehicle license and no proof of insurance.
“The actions by the officers were in accordance with how we would handle any stolen vehicle. They learn that from the academy,” Cook said. “The officers acted justly. We are reviewing what occurred in dispatch.”
Mayor Frank Anderson said Thursday he saw no indication of excessive force after watching the video.