Former police officers arraigned, set for February 2024 jury trial

Two former Lawton police officers entered not guilty pleas Wednesday to charges stemming from the December 2021 shooting death of Quadry Malik Sanders.

Both men are scheduled for the February 2024 jury trial docket in Comanche County District Court. They are being tried together. 

Nathan Michael Ronan, 31, and Robert Leslie Hinkle, 31, appeared Wednesday morning in Presiding District Judge Emmit Tayloe’s court for formal arraignment for their felony charges: Ronan is charged with shooting with intent to kill and Hinkle with first-degree manslaughter, records indicate.

The two men were among Lawton police officers responding to a call of an armed hostage situation and protective order violation against Sanders, 29, the night of Dec. 5, 2021, at 1806 NW Lincoln, the home of his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children, Briana Wattenberg. Ronan and Hinkle shot at Sanders after he failed to comply with their commands.

In all Hinkle fired 15 shots and Ronan fired four.

According to the State Medical Examiner’s autopsy report, Sanders received 12 bullet wounds to the upper and lower body that killed him. The medical examiner reported finding methamphetamine in Sanders’ blood.

Ballistics testing showed that 11 wounds came from Hinkle’s gun and one was unidentifiable from either man’s gun.

Ronan had initially been charged in May 2022 with first-degree manslaughter but the charge was amended during the preliminary hearing following a motion by Comanche County District Attorney Kyle Cabelka.

Following an internal department investigation, Ronan and Hinkle were terminated from the Lawton Police Department on Jan. 7, 2022, for violating the department’s use of force police.

The men are represented by attorney Gary James, of Oklahoma City.