Broken Arrow police officer suspended amid rape allegation
The Tulsa World reports that a Broken Arrow police officer has been suspended due to an investigation into a rape allegation.
Staff Writer David Harper reports:
The name of the officer was not released, but Broken Arrow Police Maj. Mark Irwin described him as a six-year veteran of the force. He said the officer was suspended with pay on Friday. (more…)
911 call of Blanchard home invasion released
Listen to one part of the call above and check back with NewsOK for more sound bites.
Sarah McKinley, 18, tells a dispatcher in the call that she’s at home with her son and heard a man knocking at the door. She said she has two guns in her hand and asks the dispatcher if she is allowed to shoot the intruders if they enter her house. (more…)
Fund set up for Blanchard woman who shot, killed intruder
Since Sunday, I’ve received emails from people across the county who are interested in donating money to an 18-year-old woman in Blanchard who shot and killed a home intruder Saturday.
Sarah McKinley was at home alone with her 3-month-old son when the home invasion occurred. NewsOK reports:
Dustin Louis Stewart, 29, of Blanchard, was about to enter the home of Sarah McKinley, along with Justin Shane Martin, 24, of Blanchard, when McKinley shot Martin Saturday.
(more…)
Live stream of Occupy OKC protest
Oklahoma City officials said Monday they are no longer going to renew park permits for Occupy OKC protesters. Without the permits, protesters won’t be able to use Kerr Park from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The group is angry about the denial of a permit, and some say they won’t leave after the park’s curfew tonight. Watch the NewsOK video above and see more video here.
Occupy Organizer Beth Isabell said some protesters will accept citations and others will be arrested before they leave. It’s something that the group hopes to avoid, she said.
Occupier Jaymie Johnson said he was laid off as a firefighter and has been protesting at the park for equal employment opportunities for all Americans.
“I’m definitely ready to be arrested,” he said. “We’re occupying this park, and I’m not going to leave until there’s a change.”
Browse through The Oklahoman’s archives
I was doing some research through The Oklahoman’s archives on an old court case and came across the top news story 20 years ago today. The headline reads “Okmulgee Sheriff Quits; Grand Jury Cites Allegations.”
I always enjoy looking through the archives because it’s a nice way to see how reporting and newspapers have changed over time. If anyone has any interest, I might start posting bits and pieces of more stories from “back in the day.”
I’ve posted a few paragraphs from the story below, but you’ll need to purchase one of our packages to view the rest of the article. Or if you’re already a print subscriber you can activate your account here.
OKMULGEE–Sheriff Jim Hart resigned Wednesday after the state’s multicounty grand jury accused him of corruption and official misconduct, including forcing a female jailer to have sex with him.
In an 11-count ouster petition, jurors also alleged Hart allowed prisoners outside their jail cells, falsified investigative reports and jail inmate medication logs, solicited witnesses to lie in court testimony and filed a false $350 gasoline expense claim.
The former jailer, in October, filed a $1 million sexual harassment claim with Okmulgee County commissioners alleging Hary forced her to resign after she complained to the Oklahoma State Buureau of Investigation.
Story written by Staff Writer Robby Trammell.
Live chat on prison riot in Sayre
We’ve been following a prison riot in Sayre since shortly before 1 p.m. To help with updates, we’ve created a live chat to provide new details in the riot as soon as we get them. Readers can also post on the chat and tell us what they’re seeing or hearing about the incident.
Jury finds man guilty in police officer shooting
Jurors reached a verdict Tuesday evening in the trial of Alex Mercado, who was accused of partaking in the ambush of a police officer last year.
Mercado, 18, was found guilty of shooting with intent to kill. Jurors chose a punishment of three years in prison.
Jurors acquitted his mother, Vilma Escalante, 53, of the same offense.
“I’m glad the system works,” said her attorney, Cesar Armenta.
Officer Katie Lawson was shot six times with an assault rifle on Aug. 29, 2010, after helping an Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy with a traffic stop. She returned fire and survived.
Expect more coverage in Wednesday’s print edition of The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma City police officer accused of punching husband in face
An Oklahoma City Police officer was arrested Friday on complaints of domestic abuse and assault and battery for punching her husband in the face.
Read the police report here.
Sgt. Cristy Cirillo, 32, was arrested Friday night by police after her husband said she assaulted him.
Her husband told officers they have been married for 18 months. During an argument Friday at their residence on Pentree Drive, he said he knocked Cirillo’s phone out of her hand and she punched him in the face, causing his nose to bleed, according to a police report released Monday.
Cirillo has been an Oklahoma City police officer for nine years. Master Sgt. Gary Knight said she is a sergeant assigned to the patrol division. She has been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Law enforcement officials remember Pottawatomie County deputies
Oklahoma law enforcement agencies are mourning the loss of two Pottawatomie County sheriff deputies killed in a vehicle collision Friday.
Deputies Mike Roberts, 45, and Tim Lowry, 56, were serving warrants when they collided with a tractor-trailer on State Highway 39, officials said. The accident is still under investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Funeral arrangements for the deputies were announced Sunday.
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth praised both men.
“They’ve been around for a long time and they’ve done a lot of a great work,” Booth said.
“It’s a huge loss for these families, and it’s a huge loss for this county and law enforcement in general.”
Some state law enforcement agencies have been using Facebook since the crash to post about the deputies and send prayers to their families.
