Former Bethel Police Officer Convicted of Assault and Tampering with Evidence
Bethel, AK – A former Bethel police officer, Jonathan Murphy, 39, has been convicted of assault, providing false information, and tampering with public records following a six-day trial. The charges stem from an incident on December 23, 2023, during a traffic stop in Bethel, Alaska.
Details of the Incident
On December 23, 2023, Murphy, then an officer with the Bethel Police Department, assisted in a traffic stop involving a vehicle reported as stolen. According to the Alaska Department of Law, body-worn camera footage shows Murphy and another officer approaching the driver, Bernard Mael, and instructing him to raise his hands, which Mael complied with.
Prosecutors stated that Murphy then attempted to forcibly remove Mael from the vehicle and struck him in the face. Mael subsequently drove away. Following the initial encounter, Murphy radioed other officers, falsely claiming that Mael had attempted to hit him with the vehicle and suggesting felony assault charges.
After a brief pursuit, officers forced Mael’s vehicle into a snowbank. Murphy and other officers then surrounded the vehicle, broke the windows, deployed pepper spray, and used tasers on Mael. Video evidence showed Mael retreating further into the vehicle, attempting to remove the taser wires, and curling into a fetal position. During this time, Murphy grabbed Mael through the driver’s side window and repeatedly struck him in the head, delivering approximately 15 closed-hand strikes in less than ten seconds.
Convictions and Sentencing
On February 12, 2026, a Bethel jury found Murphy guilty of Assault in the Fourth Degree, Providing False Information Implicating Another in a Crime, and Tampering with Public Records in the Second Degree. The Alaska Department of Law announced the convictions on February 17, 2026.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. KYUK reports that sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.
Murphy’s Subsequent Employment and Current Status
Murphy resigned from the Bethel Police Department in 2024. He briefly worked with the Sitka Police Department and currently serves as police chief in Diamond City, Arkansas, according to the Department of Law. Alaska’s News Source confirms this information.