LITTLE ROCK — The state trooper whose traffic stop led to the dismissal of former Arkansas State running back Michael Dyer from the team has been fired and has submitted an appeal to the decision, the Arkansas State Police announced Thursday.
The termination letter released from the department said that trooper Royce Denney was fired for his "conduct and repeated demonstrations of a lack of judgment," among other citations. A formal investigation was launched into the incident prior to Denney's firing, which occurred July 27.
Denney pulled over two cars in White County for speeding on March 10, one of which was being driven by Dyer. Denney later found a gun and marijuana in the car.
The former Little Rock Christian running back was dismissed from the team on Saturday. He transferred into the program in January after spending the previous two seasons at Auburn.
Video of the stop surfaced, showing Denney lecturing Dyer about having the gun. Denney also tells Dyer he will let "coach" — as in Red Wolves head coach Gus Malzahn — make the decision on what to do with the gun.
"If he wants me to keep it, I'll keep it," Denny is heard saying. "If he wants me to get it delivered to him, I'll get it delivered to him. Whatever."
Denney goes on to say that he doesn't want to tell Malzahn about the incident because of the "NCAA stuff."
Dyer and the other driver, ASU football player Ronnie Wright, were issued citations in White County for driving 96 mph in a 70-mph zone.
During the encounter, Denney also turned off his in-car camera.
In his time as a state trooper, Denney had four complaints filed against him, according to ASP records. Two of the complaints were unfounded and one resulted in a one-day suspension without pay. Denney has spent the past 11 years with the department in the Highway Patrol Division.
The Arkansas State Police Commission will handle the appeal process.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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