Man running in fast lane of Main Street charged with kicking Cushing officer

  STILLWATER — A 36-year-old man, who reportedly had several signs of stimulant use while running in the fast lane of the 1000 block of E. Main Street in Cushing, has been accused of kicking a Cushing police officer in the groin and obstructing another Cushing officer by refusing to stop running.

   Cody James Gentry, who has also used the middle name of Issac, has been jailed on $5,000 bond pending his Oct. 13 arraignment on charges of assault and battery on a police officer and obstructing an officer. If convicted of both counts, Gentry could be incarcerated for six years.

   Gentry, who has also been known as Matthew Issac Henson, was listed as living in Yukon on his charges but as residing in Guthrie on a Cushing police affidavit, court records show.

   At 1:17 pm on Sept. 21, Cushing police had been dispatched on a report of a man running westbound on E. Main Street from N. Linwood Avenue, according to an affidavit.

   Cushing Police Officer David Smith, who is a nationally certified drug recognition expert, alleged in an affidavit, “Gentry was running westbound on E. Main Street in the number one lane or fast lane. There were sidewalks available on both the north and south sides of the roadway.

   “I activated my emergency lights and attempted to conduct a stop on Gentry due to him running in the roadway despite the presence of adjacent sidewalks. Gentry looked back toward my patrol unit but continued running and ignored my emergency lights.

   “I then utilized my patrol unit’s PA system and gave Gentry multiple commands to move toward the right side of the roadway and stop, so I could speak with him. Gentry failed to comply with my commands and continued running westbound.

   “Sergeant Carson Watts arrived in the area and also activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to gain Gentry’s attention. Gentry continued to ignore officers and did not stop. Sgt. Watts positioned his patrol unit in front of Gentry in an attempt to block his path. Gentry ignored Sgt. Watts’ patrol unit and ran around it.

   “I then positioned my patrol unit in sequence with Sgt. Watts’ unit in an attempt to cut off Gentry’s path. This maneuver was successful, and Gentry stopped running; however, he began backpedaling.

   “I exited my patrol unit and attempted to make contact with Gentry. Gentry then threw a full cup of soda from Braum’s at me, striking me on the left rear portion of my hip. The cup subsequently deflected off me and struck my patrol unit, causing the cup to rupture and the soda to spill inside the vehicle.

   “Gentry then assumed what appeared to be a fighting stance toward officers in the middle of E. Main Street in the 1000 block. Sgt. Watts deployed his Taser, which successfully incapacitated Gentry through neuromuscular incapacitation. While Gentry was incapacitated, officers were able to place him in handcuffs.

   “After Gentry was secured in handcuffs, Sgt. Watts removed the Taser probes without issue. Officers then attempted to untangle the Taser wires from Gentry’s legs. Prior to doing so, officers explicitly warned Gentry that he would face an additional charge if he kicked officers.

   “Despite the warning, Gentry kicked and struck Sgt. Watts in the groin with his knee. Gentry was placed in my patrol car for transport to the Cushing City Jail. EMS arrived and conducted a general welfare and medical assessment of Gentry.

   “I observed several signs and symptoms that were consistent with stimulant use. These signs and symptoms included rigid muscles, dilated pupils, redness around the nose, dry mouth, sweating and an elevated heart rate and blood pressure,” Officer Smith alleged in his affidavit.

   According to state Department of Corrections records, Gentry had been convicted in Oklahoma County of possessing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, park or childcare facility, assault and battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all in 2013 and unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2018, for which he was given in 2019 concurrent terms of probation respectively for two years, one year, one year and five years.