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A patrolman in Maine pulled over a 63-year-old man for a traffic stop. 40 seconds later, he sent his K-9 on him.

Camille Fine

Thu, January 13, 2022, 1:36 PM·7 min read

YORK, Maine — Town officials released video footage late Wednesday that shows a police officer in Maine using a K-9 to subdue a man during a traffic stop more than two years ago.

The release of the footage comes about a week after the man, Stephen Brennan, announced through his attorneys he had reached a $325,000 settlement agreement with the town and Patrolman Jonathan Rogers, who had released the dog during the encounter on Sept. 20, 2019.

In a joint statement released with the footage, York Town Manager Steve Burns and Acting Police Chief Owen Davis said Rogers “simply did his job to keep York a safe place.”

Brennan was 63 at the time of the incident and ran a pediatrics practice. He suffered multiple injuries, including dog bites that his attorneys said required months of follow-up and wound care.

The 21-minute video, which was released in response to a public records request from Seacoast Media Group, includes audio and dashboard camera video. There was no body-worn camera used during the encounter, Burns said. 

Rogers pulled over Brennan for allegedly flashing his high beams. The video shows Brennan stepped out of his vehicle before Rogers' cruiser had fully stopped.

As Brennan walked toward the police cruiser, Rogers shouted at him to put his hands up. Brennan complied at first, but he continued walking while Rogers yelled three times for him to stop.

Brennan stopped for a moment with his hands raised, then he dropped them and turned back toward his own vehicle. Rogers left his cruiser and approached Brennan, telling him to stop moving. Rogers had his gun drawn and pointed at Brennan.

Dashboard camera footage released by the Town of York shows York Police Department Patrolman Jonathan Rogers using a K-9 to subdue pediatrician Stephen Brennan during a traffic stop on Sept. 20, 2019. The footage was released publicly Jan. 12, 2022, in response to a public records request. The video shows Brennan was on his knees before the K-9 made contact with him.

Brennan turned again toward Rogers, who repeatedly warned that he would sic the K-9 on him if he did not turn around and comply.

After Rogers told Brennan six times to get on the ground, Brennan dropped to his knees. Rogers told Brennan to get on the ground one more time as the K-9 ran toward Brennan and knocked him to the ground.