A former Warrenton police officer who also worked in Littleton and Roanoke Rapids has been federally charged with three counts of use of unreasonable force when he deployed his Taser while acting under color of law, court records show.
Mark Aaron Oakley is scheduled for arraignment on June 10 before District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan, according to an order filed today.
In one of the cases referenced in the indictment he used his Taser in stun-drive mode which means the wire probes were not deployed. In the other two cases he used his Taser in probe-stun mode which means the wire probes were deployed.
Following his first appearance in Raleigh before Magistrate Judge James E. Gates Wednesday Oakley was appointed a federal public defender and was advised of his rights, charges, and maximum punishment. The government did not seek detention and the former officer was released.
The indictment
Count one charges that on or about October 30, 2022, Oakley, while acting under color of law as an officer with the Warrenton Police Department, willfully deprived victim X.D. of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. “Specifically, the defendant twice deployed a Taser in drive-stun mode to X.D.'s chest and leg without legal justification when X.D. was handcuffed in the rear of a patrol vehicle.”
The offense, the indictment said, resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
Count two charges that on or about September 9, 2023 Oakley deployed a Taser in probe-stun mode — once while victim A.B. was standing still with one arm raised and the second time when the victim was lying prone on the ground putting his hands behind his back.
The offense resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
Count three charges that on or about November 27, 2023 Oakley twice deployed a Taser in probe-stun mode to get victim S.J. to get out of a car when she was not posing a threat and the second time while she was on the ground not posing a threat.
The offense resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
Possible prior acts
While still waiting to be officially sworn in, state House 27 Representative Rodney Pierce had emailed former Littleton police Chief Phillip Trivette about Oakley on April 18, 2024.
“I am emailing in reference to recent reports regarding a police officer who received multiple complaints of improper use of force from Black residents when he was employed with the Warrenton Police Department, being currently employed with the Littleton Police Department,” Pierce wrote. “This same officer was terminated from the town of Warrenton in March after the local district attorney had asked the State Bureau of Investigation in January to investigate these complaints.”
Wrote Pierce: “I am inquiring to understand why an officer with that type of background, particularly when it comes to dealing with Black residents, which make up the majority in each of my district's three counties, would be able to still find employment within my district?”
Pierce wrote that he would be appreciative of whatever information the town could legally disclose. “I also want to advise the town of Littleton and its police department that I will be monitoring the situation involving this officer.”
Former Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty said Oakley had resigned from the force in 2015. He could not comment on why the officer resigned due to personnel laws.
