MCCLAIN COUNTY, Okla. – Criminal charges against Oklahoma City police officer Ryan Stark, including rape, kidnapping, and domestic assault and battery, have been dismissed, according to recent court documents. The decision follows the emergence of new evidence, leading the state to drop the case just before a scheduled preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Stark, who had been on unpaid administrative leave since his arrest last year, faced serious allegations after a woman accused him of choking her, spitting in her face, and threatening her with a gun before raping her. The victim also sought a protective order against Stark, which was ultimately dismissed in December.
Stark’s attorney, Kylee Johnston, expressed relief following the dismissal, stating that she believes the district attorney’s office reevaluated the case. “They must have investigated further and realized there was not enough evidence to pursue the charges,” Johnston said.
The decision to dismiss the charges was made after the state obtained new evidence, which has not been publicly disclosed. As a result, the case was dropped without going to trial.
The victim’s allegations had initially been central to the charges, with her affidavit detailing the claimed assault and the threatening actions she said Stark took against her. Despite the gravity of the accusations, Johnston insisted that the case was based largely on the victim’s testimony. “It was a ‘he said, she said’ situation,” she said, questioning whether the case had been fully investigated.
With the case dismissed, Stark’s legal team is now focused on his potential return to the police force. Stark had been placed on unpaid leave following his arrest, but his attorney hopes that the dismissal of the charges will clear the way for his reinstatement. However, it remains uncertain when or if he will resume his duties as an officer.
As of now, Stark has not publicly commented on the case, and attempts by News 4 to contact him at his home were unsuccessful.
