Oklahoma news briefs: Nov. 20, 2012

McALESTER

Officer says

he's innocent

A McAlester police officer has pleaded not guilty to felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he was charged with using a stun gun on a handcuffed woman. Officer Sterling Lee Taylor-Santino is due in court Dec. 14. Surveillance video shows Taylor-Santino using a stun gun on Nakina Williams, 28, on June 24 at the Pittsburg County jail after Williams appears to spit at him. Williams received a 10-year suspended sentence for felony assault and battery on a police officer. A former colleague, Cheryl Kelley, said the charges are unjustified and that Taylor-Santino is a fair officer.

SAPULPA

Factory fire

contained

Sapulpa fire crews extinguished a blaze at the Verallia North America glass plant Monday. Officials say between 40 and 50 employees were in the plant when the fire started about 4:30 a.m., but no one was injured. The plant is near Interstate 44 and Oklahoma Highway 66. Officials said a blown transformer started a fire outside the plant, but smoke soon filled the building. Crews were on the scene to determine if any of the plant's equipment was damaged.