The Owasso City Council approved the budget for fiscal year 2016 on Tuesday. The council also voted to approve a federal court settlement of $75,000 to Bryan Spradlin, who claimed excessive police force was used against him during an arrest in 2011.

Spradlin was arrested on June 30, 2011 for public intoxication. The arresting officer, Lt. Mike Denton, was seen striking Spradlin in the face. Lt. Denton was fired in November 2011 when the city decided his actions violated the Owasso Police Department's policy on use of force.  Photo of Lt. Mike Denton courtesy of Newson6.

In June 2012, an arbitrator ruled that Denton's actions were not enough to be considered “excessive” and that he should be reinstated. The City of Owasso challenged this ruling and chose to go to court rather than reinstate Lt. Denton.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to review the ruling and Denton was reinstated with $283,000 in back payment.

Denton is again under investigation in an unrelated case after the arrest of Cody Mathews Sunday evening. Mathews was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase on Highway 169.

Denton has been suspended with pay pending an internal affairs investigation.