Missouri's Attorney General's Office will have an in house lawyer serve as the special prosecutor for the criminal investigation of an Odessa police chief.
RELATED STORY: Odessa police chief on paid leave after being accused of injuring fellow officer
As the 41 Action News Investigators first reported earlier this month, Odessa city leaders put Police Chief Scott Newhouse on paid administrative leave after a physical altercation with one of his own officers.
Chief Newhouse is accused of intentionally closing a car door on Officer Archie Strutton, injuring Strutton's leg and foot.
Based on the Missouri special prosecutor statute, through court order, Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Ellis referred the case to the Attorney General's Office due to ethical constraints.
Ellis says she has unrelated open criminal cases with both Newhouse and Strutton which pose a conflict of interest to prosecute the case.
Lafayette County Sheriff's deputies took statements from both Newhouse and Strutton.
The special prosecutor from the AG's office will determine whether or not to charge Chief Newhouse with a crime.
In the meantime, Chief Newhouse remains on paid administrative leave from his duties with the Odessa Police Department.
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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.
