2 former KCPD officers plead guilty to assaulting Breona Hill

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Two former Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department officers have pleaded guilty to felony assault, admitting to using excessive force while arresting a transgender woman in 2019.

Matthew G. Brummett, 39, and Charles Prichard, 50, pleaded guilty today to third-degree assault. That is a Class E felony.

By pleading guilty, the men admitted to knowingly causing physical injury to Breona Hill in May of 2019 by slamming her head against the sidewalk, kneeing her in the face, torso and ribs, and forcing her arms over her head while she was cuffed.

A Jackson County judge sentenced Brummett and Prichard to three years probation and suspended imposition of their sentences. The men agreed to relinquish their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program licenses and not carry firearms while on probation. A POST license is required to be a police officer.

Brummett and Prichard’s mugshots are not currently available.

In October of 2019, Hill was fatally shot in a separate incident that took place inside a residence on Hardesty Avenue.

In May of 2020, Brummett and Prichard were charged with misdemeanor assault.

In July of 2020, however, a grand jury heard new evidence and and an affidavit detailed the type of new evidence they heard. According to that affidavit, witnesses came forward after the initial May indictment.

One witness was the lead defensive tactics instructor at the Regional Police Academy in the summer of 2019. That witness had seen reports about the arrest, including a video. The witness said there were several issues with the amount of force used. This witness’ commanders supported the individual’s conclusion and raised other issues about the arrest, which they thought was not justified.

A second witness, who was a former defensive tactics instructor, also reviewed the reports and contacted a member of the KCPD’s command staff. This witness also said there were issues with the amount of force used.

The grand jury was also presented with evidence about the extent of Hill’s injuries as a result of the amount of force used during the arrest.

Today, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker acknowledged the citizen who saw the officers restraining Hill in 2019 and took video on a cellphone of the incident. She also acknowledged Kris Wade, Executive Director of The Justice Project Kansas City, who supported Hill and others in the LGBTQ community regarding the incident.

Attorney David Smith read a statement from Rena Childs today. Childs, a spokeswoman for Hill’s family, called for reforms and culture change in policing.

“But, today is beginning to smell like justice,” Childs said. “These two officers will never be able to be police officers again.”