UPDATED: Denton police mulling punishment for voter taunting claim

Updated 10:47 a.m., November 18, 2008

by Bryan Shettig of North Texas Daily

A Denton resident alleges that a Denton police officer taunted him Tuesday, telling him if he "voted for McCain" he could be let out of jail.

Denton police officer and spokesman Jim Bryan said the department had no comment yet on the claims, but there is an internal investigation going on.

Aruto Ntel, a 25-year-old senior at Texas Woman's University, said he was driving on Elm Street Tuesday when he was pulled over for speeding. Ntel, who was driving to vote after going to the wrong precinct, had an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation, and was arrested.

Ntel said he was taken to the Denton Police Department on 601 E. Hickory St., where he was held in detention.

"They joked about me going to polls, and then an officer swung a key in front of my face and said I could go free if I vote for McCain," Ntel said.

Ntel left the jail later that day when a friend posted the $187 bond.

Bryan said he did not know when police would finish the investigation.

UPDATE: Denton police concluded an investigation into comments made by a detention officer in the Denton City Jail on Nov. 4 to a detainee that he could go free if he "voted for McCain."

The officer, Chris Saunier, is on restricted duty from the jail for making the comment, Capt. Lenn Carter of the Denton police said. It is unclear when Saunier will return to work.

Carter said police Chief Roy Minter Jr. has not decided on a punishment yet, but it could include firing the officer.

The incident, which was filmed by closed-circuit cameras, happened on Election Day. Police pulled over Denton resident and Texas Woman's University senior Aruto Ntel, 25, as he was trying to find the correct polling station to vote.

After being arrested for an outstanding warrant that Ntel was in the process of paying for, police held him in the Denton City Jail. While in detention, Saunier waved a key in front of Ntel's face and told him his "ticket to leave" was to vote for McCain. Several of the employees were laughing on the tape.

"It wasn't funny that I was there," Ntel said. "They acted like I was making up that I was going to vote."

Ntel was released from jail when a friend paid the $187 bond, and he was later able to vote.

"This was my first time voting," he said. Ntel did not vote for John McCain and instead voted for Barack Obama.

Saunier could not be reached for comment by press time and was not at work.

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