Ex-Sanger police sergeant indicted for official oppression, assault during traffic stop

A former Sanger police sergeant was indicted last week in connection with an incident last year where he tased and used physical force against a driver during a traffic stop, the police department said Thursday.

Cole Thompson, 36, was indicted by a Denton County grand jury and charged with official oppression and assault, according to court records. He was booked into jail Wednesday and released on bond the same day, records show.

It was unclear if he had an attorney. He could not be immediately reached Friday using a phone number listed in public records.

Thompson was fired from the Sanger department in early December after an internal investigation determined he used excessive force when he tried to handcuff the driver last fall, the department said in a news release.

Thompson responded to a traffic stop just after 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 in the 300 block of Willow Street, the statement says. The driver, who has not been identified, was ordered to walk to the back of the vehicle and complied. While attempting to handcuff the driver, police tased the driver and used physical force, according to the news release.

A use-of-force report was submitted by Thompson, who was later put on administrative leave, and the department said it further reviewed the incident. The statement said Thompson’s report was inconsistent with video footage.

No additional information was immediately available.