Body-camera recordings reveal fellow officers’ reactions to the arrest of a colleague described as an impaired-driving recognition expert and field sobriety testing instructor.
LAWTON, Okla. — A Lawton Police Department officer described by fellow officers as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and standardized field sobriety testing instructor is facing a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge following an early-morning traffic stop conducted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on August 30, 2026.
Christopher Lee Boucherie Puetz, 38, was arrested by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Jimmy Shrum after the trooper reported observing signs of alcohol impairment during a traffic stop near Northwest 53rd Street and West Gore Boulevard in Lawton.
The case involves an officer trained in the same sobriety protocols administered during his arrest.
Body-worn camera recordings obtained by the Lawton Town Crier capture responding law enforcement personnel discussing Puetz’s specialized training, expressing frustration over the circumstances, and acknowledging that his status as a fellow officer did not change the situation.
“He’s not only one of ours, he’s a DRE,” one speaker states in the recording.
A Drug Recognition Expert is a law enforcement officer specially trained to recognize signs of impairment, particularly impairment associated with drugs. Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructors are trained to teach officers procedures used during roadside impaired-driving investigations.
Puetz’s reported DRE and instructor qualifications have not yet been independently confirmed through official certification records.
Early-Morning Traffic Stop
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Trooper Shrum, the incident began at approximately 1:30 a.m. on August 30, when he observed a vehicle traveling northbound on Northwest 53rd Street at what he described as an unsafe following distance.
Shrum activated his emergency lights and stopped a red Chevrolet Colorado pickup.
When Shrum approached the driver’s side and requested identification, Puetz initially presented a Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) commission card, according to the affidavit.
Shrum stated that he did not need the commission card, after which Puetz provided his Oklahoma driver’s license.
While speaking with Puetz, Shrum reported detecting a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle.
The trooper directed Puetz to his patrol vehicle for additional questioning. During that interaction, Puetz reportedly identified himself as a Lawton police officer and informed Shrum that a firearm was inside his vehicle.
Shrum reported observing that Puetz was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech, and exhibited red, watery eyes.
When asked about his alcohol consumption that evening, Puetz reportedly acknowledged having consumed a few drinks, later describing the amount as “a couple.”
Field Sobriety Tests and Arrest
Shrum subsequently administered a series of standardized field sobriety tests.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the trooper observed:
- Four of six recognized clues during the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus examination.
- Four of eight recognized clues during the walk-and-turn test.
- Two of four recognized clues during the one-leg-stand test.
Shrum also documented additional observations during a lack-of-convergence examination and a modified Romberg balance test.
Of particular relevance to Puetz’s reported professional training, Shrum alleged that Puetz repeatedly looked away from the stimulus during the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus examination. The trooper characterized this behavior as an attempt to conceal his level of intoxication.
That characterization represents the trooper’s allegation, not an independently established finding about Puetz’s intent.
A portable breath test administered at the scene produced a reading of 0.078, according to the affidavit.
Although the reading was below the commonly recognized 0.08 blood-alcohol concentration threshold, the portable roadside test was a preliminary screening measure rather than the state’s evidentiary chemical test. Oklahoma law also permits prosecution for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol based on evidence of impairment.
Shrum concluded that Puetz was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle based on the totality of his observations.
The affidavit states that Puetz was arrested at approximately 1:48 a.m.
At approximately 1:50 a.m., Shrum read the state’s implied-consent test request and asked Puetz whether he would submit to the state’s chemical test.
According to the affidavit, Puetz declined.
Shrum subsequently transported Puetz to the Comanche County Detention Center.
Body-Camera Footage Captures Officers’ Reactions
The Lawton Town Crier obtained two Lawton Police Department Axon Body 4 recordings associated with the incident.
The recordings provide additional insight into conversations among personnel responding to the scene, including discussions about Puetz’s professional training, the investigation, and arrangements for individuals remaining at the location.
In one recording, an officer expresses frustration that someone trained in impaired-driving recognition would become the subject of a DUI investigation.
“I mean, he’s a good dude, but he fucking knows better,” a speaker says approximately two minutes into the recording.
Later, an officer again references Puetz’s specialized training:
“He’s a DRE, I mean, he’s a SFST instructor, DRE.”
At another point, a speaker discusses the preliminary breath test result and reports deliberately distancing himself from the investigation.
“So I walked away after that, no, I don’t want, I don’t want to sway their decision,” the preliminary transcript records.
Another statement similarly expresses reluctance to interfere:
“I don’t want to get involved. I don’t want to get in the way.”
These statements reflect the speakers’ expressed intentions. The recordings alone do not establish every action taken by personnel at the scene.
Watch: LPD Body-Camera Recording — 1:41 a.m.
The following recording captures conversations among responding law enforcement personnel concerning Puetz’s arrest, his reported training in DUI enforcement, and the response to the incident.
Source: Lawton Police Department body-worn camera recording, August 30, 2026. Recording identifier D01AG0427. The time shown in the filename has not been independently verified against Axon recording metadata.
Officers Discuss Training and Accountability
In one segment of the recording, officers discuss departmental expectation.
At approximately 12 minutes and 28 seconds into the recording, one speaker states:
“But, we’ve been saying it for years, it’s just a matter of time.”
The speaker continues, referring to Puetz’s reported training and expressing surprise that he was the officer involved.
A subsequent statement suggests that the speaker had anticipated that a department member would eventually face similar circumstances.
“Like I said, I’ve known for years, it’s gonna be one of our people that’s gonna get caught up, it’s just a matter of who and when, you know?”
The recording does not establish whether the statement referred to any particular previous incident, prior allegation, or individual officer.
Nevertheless, the exchange provides a contemporaneous account of how at least one responding officer perceived the situation.
Other conversations document efforts to arrange transportation for individuals remaining at the traffic stop.
When asked whether another person could retrieve the pickup, a responding officer indicated that the decision belonged to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper conducting the investigation.
The recording also captures a discussion concerning notification of the Comanche County Detention Center so Puetz could be housed appropriately.
The available material does not establish whether the detention center provided special accommodations or whether the discussion reflected ordinary procedures for housing individuals employed in law enforcement.
Lawton Police Supervisors Responded
Oklahoma Highway Patrol dispatch records establish that LPD administrators were notified of the incident.
An entry recorded at 2:03 a.m. states:
“THIS WILL BE AN LPD OFFICER / THEIR ADMIN IS AWARE OF THIS AND LAWTON PD IS ON SCENE”
A subsequent entry recorded at 3:07 a.m. identifies Lawton Police Lieutenant Justin Johnson and Captain Anthony Bray as supervisors who responded to the scene.
Those timestamps reflect when information was entered into the dispatch system and do not necessarily establish the supervisors’ precise arrival times.
The body-camera recordings also capture conversations about contacting supervisory personnel.
At approximately 18 minutes and 26 seconds into one recording, a speaker describes notifying another individual after receiving information about the arrest.
“It’s the first thing I did when I got the call was, called him,” the speaker states.
The speaker continues:
“I said I’m on my way, but if he’s drunk, he’s fucked.”
The available transcripts do not conclusively establish the identity of every speaker, and the Lawton Town Crier is continuing to examine the recordings and associated personnel records.
Watch: Additional LPD Body-Camera Recording — 1:49 a.m.
A second Axon Body 4 recording documents additional portions of the law enforcement response.
Source: Lawton Police Department body-worn camera recording, August 30, 2026. Recording identifier D01AF386X. The time shown in the filename has not been independently verified against Axon recording metadata.
Criminal Charge Filed in Comanche County
On September 2, 2026, prosecutors formally charged Puetz with one misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of 47 O.S. § 11-902(A)(2).
The case was filed in Comanche County District Court as CM-2026-1682, according to information published by the Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN).
The docket states that Puetz appeared before Judge Galbraith on September 2 and entered a plea of not guilty.
A $1,000 recognizance bond was posted the same day, subject to conditions requiring Puetz not to violate federal, state, or municipal law.
The next court appearance is scheduled for November 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., before Judge Susan Zwaan.
Although the original Highway Patrol affidavit also identified following too closely as an alleged traffic violation, the criminal docket lists only the misdemeanor DUI charge as formally filed.
The charge remains an allegation, and Puetz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Additional Records Requests Remain Outstanding
The Lawton Town Crier has submitted additional requests under the Oklahoma Open Records Act to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety seeking records related to the August 30 incident.
Among the requested materials are Oklahoma Highway Patrol dash-camera recordings and additional documentation concerning the traffic stop, sobriety testing, and arrest.
Those requests remain outstanding, and the requested OHP dash-camera footage has not yet been received.
The Lawton Town Crier is also seeking additional records concerning the response of Lawton Police Department personnel, including documentation that may help establish the identities, assignments, and actions of officers and supervisors present at the scene.
Additional records may provide further context regarding the traffic stop, the administration of sobriety tests, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Public Access to Body-Camera Footage
As part of its commitment to independent reporting and public transparency, the Lawton Town Crier is making the two body-camera recordings it received available on its YouTube channel in their entirety, subject to any legally necessary redactions.
The recordings are being published so members of the public can examine the available footage, hear the conversations, and reach their own conclusions rather than relying exclusively on selected quotations or editorial descriptions.
The Lawton Town Crier encourages readers to consider the footage alongside the official arrest documents, court proceedings, and additional records as they become available.
Continuing Coverage
The arrest of an officer described by colleagues as a Drug Recognition Expert and field sobriety testing instructor raises significant questions about professional responsibility and accountability among personnel charged with enforcing impaired-driving laws.
The Lawton Town Crier will continue following the criminal proceedings in Comanche County District Court, examining Puetz’s reported specialized qualifications, and reviewing additional records produced by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the Lawton Police Department.
Further reporting will follow as outstanding records are received and additional information is verified.
This article is based on Oklahoma Highway Patrol incident reports, a probable cause affidavit, LPD body-worn camera recordings, and information published through the Oklahoma State Courts Network. The criminal charge is an allegation, and Puetz is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.