A former Lawrence police officer accused of punching an uncooperative man in the face pleaded not guilty Thursday.

The former officer, Frank McClelland, faces a misdemeanor charge of battery. He appeared Thursday afternoon in Douglas County District Court and received a trial-setting date of Nov. 29.

McClelland declined to comment for this article.

Frank McClelland

On Aug. 16 McClelland was dispatched to the 1900 block of 19th Street to help another officer break up a fight between two men, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said at a September news conference.

After one of the men refused to follow McClelland’s orders to sit down, Branson alleged, McClelland swept the man’s legs out from under him and punched him in the face as many as four times.

The man was arrested, but no charges were ultimately filed against him.

Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib said in September that another police officer heard about McClelland’s actions and reported the incident to a supervisor.

Khatib said he then contacted Branson and the Douglas County sheriff to initiate an independent investigation, after which the charge was filed against McClelland.

McClelland later resigned from the department. His last day was Aug. 30.

McClelland has not been arrested, though Douglas County District Court Judge James George said he would have to go to the jail to be processed and then be released on a $500 bond.