Officer charged with second-degree murder
Former Stroud police chief Lucky Miller was killed in Florida Sunday night and another police officer has been charged with second-degree murder in his death.
The police chief in Mannford at the time of his death, Miller was in Pensacola, Fla., for training along with Michael Nealey, an officer on the Mannford police department.
According to an arrest report filed by the Escambia County sheriff’s office, Nealey was arrested and charged with killling Miller in a hotel room.
Both men were Stroud residents.
The arrest report said officers were called to a Hilton hotel, where Miller had been found unresponsive.
According to the report, a maintenance worker responding to noise complaints had entered the room and found Nealey sitting on Miller, whose face was beaten.
Witnesses in adjoining rooms told authorities they heard louod noises and a male voice saying “Stop it, Mike” several times.
Lionil Martinez, the officer filing report, said Nealey was unable to provide any information about what happened in the hotel.
Nealey’s right hand was red and swollen, he said.
According to the arrest report, Nealey was given a court date of Dec. 5 and authorities had requested he not be allowed to have a bond.
Miller had been police chief in Stroud before taking the chief’s job in Mannford in 2007, said Mannford Mayor Tyler Buttram.
Buttram said Miller and Nealy were good friends.
“You worry about them so much, so to hear about something that happened in Florida during a training is bizarre, unbelievable,” he said.
Buttram said law enforcement agencies including Stroud police had offered aid and services, including working patrol shifts so Mannford officers could have time off to process events.
Meeker police chief and former Stroud police offer Trent Norton said Miller was his field training officer when he joined the Stroud department.
“He was an awesome guy and an awesome narcotics officer,” Norton said. “It was unfortunate and I hope justice is served.
“He weas a huge asset to his family, the community and the state.”
Norton said he had no details on the case, but “I do know a good man was lost with whatever transpired.”
- Jessica Pollard, Mike McCormick and Brian Blansett contributed to this report.