OKC Police Officer, Sergeant Kristopher Gellenbeck, Arrested for Allegedly Strangling Teen Son Amidst Past Domestic Violence Accusations

 

An Oklahoma City police officer has been arrested again, this time on allegations of child abuse and domestic violence.

According to an arrest report, Sergeant Kristopher Gellenbeck is accused of physically assaulting his teenage son and interfering with his ex-wife's attempt to call 911 during a domestic dispute. 

The incident occurred on Sunday, and Gellenbeck was arrested on Monday. He has been placed on paid administrative leave and is no longer an inmate at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Gellenbeck has a history of domestic violence allegations. 

In 2021, he was arrested on charges of kidnapping, domestic assault and battery, and interference with an emergency telephone call. Those charges were ultimately dismissed, but Gellenbeck was charged with a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace.

Gellenbeck's ex-wife has filed for an emergency protective order, which has been granted. The order prohibits Gellenbeck from making any contact with his ex-wife or their children. 

He is also not allowed to possess any firearms.

Gellenbeck is expected in court for a hearing on the emergency protective order on December 23.

The arrest report alleges that Gellenbeck physically assaulted his teenage son during a domestic dispute on Sunday. The report also states that Gellenbeck tried to prevent his ex-wife from calling 911 by grabbing her phone and smashing her hands against a window.

Gellenbeck's ex-wife has also filed a petition for an emergency protective order, in which she alleges that Gellenbeck has been verbally and physically abusive towards their three children. She also claims that Gellenbeck has threatened to kill her and her children.

OKCPD Captain Valerie Littlejohn said that the department is taking the allegations against Gellenbeck seriously and that the investigation will be handled by the department's domestic violence unit.

"The message we want to send is regardless of who the abuser is, as a victim, we want you to report that. It is always important for a victim to be able to report any kind of domestic violence, because that way we can start investigating it and hopefully help in the instance to where it doesn’t progress to something worse. 

Obviously, domestic situations can be very volatile, so any time you are in that position, regardless of who the abuser is, if it’s an officer or anyone else, they are able to come forward and report whatever is going on," stated Captain Littlejohn.

[SOURCE]