Dispute involved two officers
Posted On: Thursday, Dec. 31 2009 06:11 AM
By Victor O'Brien
Killeen Daily HeraldA Belton cop accused of pointing a gun at a Temple cop's forehead Sunday remained behind bars Wednesday.
Belton police Officer Doyle Ray Braden, 44, was arraigned early Wednesday on $100,000 bond stemming from an aggravated assault charge.
Killeen police allege Braden pointed a gun at a neighbor, an off-duty Temple officer, during an argument over access to a telephone utility box. Braden's family said Wednesday he pulled the gun after the neighbor threatened physical harm and refused to leave Braden's doorstep.
Braden, a retired soldier, was placed on paid administrative leave by the Belton Police Department Monday, pending an internal investigation, Belton Police Chief Gene Ellis said Wednesday.
Temple police are investigating their officer's role in the incident, according to a statement released Wednesday.
The dispute started Sunday when Braden refused to allow a repairman access to a telephone utility box in his backyard in the 4300 block of Neta Drive, according to an arrest affidavit. The box controls access for several homes including the neighbor's phone service, which was broken at the time.
When the Temple officer's husband approached Braden about the issue, Braden displayed a gun and asked him to leave his home, the affidavit stated.
The couple allege Braden then pointed a silver handgun at the officer's head and asked her to leave. The husband had returned to Braden's home with his wife, who confronted Braden about her husband being threatened with a gun.
In an interview with Killeen police, Braden admitted to pointing the gun at the couple after telling them to leave, the affidavit stated.
The police report doesn't tell the whole story, Braden son's Jessy Braden said Wednesday. He overheard the incident from a nearby room.
The husband threatened his father several times, Jessy Braden said. The husband left, but returned moments later with his wife.
"He told them countless times to leave," Jessy Braden said. "When he told them to leave, they wouldn't leave."
Braden's wife, Geri Braden, questions the arrest, wondering what her husband could have done to protect himself when threatened at his home.
"I don't think the whole situation is right," Geri Braden said. "Are you allowed to protect yourself in your home?"
Killeen police declined to speak Wednesday about the circumstances that may have led Braden to point his gun at the officer.
"There was a dispute, and he pulled his gun on her. That's considered aggravated assault. You don't threaten someone with a gun. It was a verbal altercation," Killeen police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said.
Messages left at the Temple police officer's home were not returned Wednesday.
Contact Victor O'Brien at
vobrien@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7468.