Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sheriff Who Talked Of Killing Journalists Won’t Face Charges

Published

1 year ago

June 30, 2023

Oklahoma Sheriff Who Talked Of Killing Journalists Won’t Face Charges

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A sheriff in southeast Oklahoma who was among several county officials caught on tape discussing killing journalists and lynching Black people won’t face criminal charges or be removed from office, the state’s top prosecutor said Friday.

In a letter to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General Gentner Drummond said his office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation had completed their investigation and found no legal grounds to dismiss McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy.

“There are countless examples of incidents from across the country where public officials make inflammatory comments that spark severe condemnation,” Drummond wrote. “Oftentimes the offending official resigns in disgrace. Sometimes the outrage fades and the matter is forgotten.

He added: “Regardless, there is no provision of law in Oklahoma to throw elected officials out of office merely for saying something offensive.”

Drummond said McCurtain County voters will make the final decision on whether Clardy remains in office and suggested Stitt appeal to voters there and perhaps identify someone to run against Clardy.

Clardy and several other county officials sparked outrage after a local newspaper’s audio recording captured them complaining about two of the paper’s journalists and knowing hit men and where two holes are dug. Stitt quickly called for the resignation of Clardy, sheriff’s Capt. Alicia Manning, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix. Jennings was the only one to resign.

A message left Friday with the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.

Bruce Willingham, the longtime publisher of the McCurtain Gazette-News, said the recording was made March 6 when he left a voice-activated recorder inside the room after a county commissioner’s meeting because he suspected the group was continuing to conduct county business after the meeting had ended in violation of the state’s Open Meeting Act. Chris Willingham, a reporter at the paper, is Bruce Willingham’s son.

Bruce Willingham said he believes the local officials were upset about “stories we’ve run that cast the sheriff’s office in an unfavorable light,” including the death of Bobby Barrick, a Broken Bow, Oklahoma, man who died at a hospital in March 2022 after McCurtain County deputies shot him with a stun gun.

With a population of about 31,000 and bordering both Arkansas and Texas, the county has a long history of lawlessness dating back to days before statehood, but in recent years it has become a tourism hotbed, drawing thousands of visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

Follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy

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Oklahoma

BYU is Nearing Another Sellout for Oklahoma State Game

Published

3 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Press Room

BYU is Nearing Another Sellout for Oklahoma State Game

On Friday night, no. 13 BYU hosts Oklahoma State for a chance to improve to 7-0. This game is important for both teams: the Cougars are looking to remain in the thick of the conference title hunt, and the Cowboys are desperate for a win after losing back-to-back-to-back games. The Cowboys are coming off a bye week, and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has a reputation for winning games after bye weeks. The temperature is expected to be in the low 40’s throughout the game.

BYU-Oklahoma State a is quickly trending towards a sellout. As of early late Tuesday evening, just over 600 tickets remain available on the BYU Tickets website, primarily in the North endzone. Only one lower bowl ticket remains – the rest are in the upper bowl.

Tickets Available (As of 10/15/24 in the evening)

West Side: 12
North Side: 467
East Side: 31
South Side: 103

BYU has sold out all three of its home games this season against Southern Illinois, Kansas State and Arizona. The Southern Illinois and Kansas State games didn’t sellout until a few hours before kickoff. The Arizona game sold out a few days before kickoff. BYU-Oklahoma State is on pace to sellout a day or two before kickoff.

Lavell Edwards Stadium is the biggest venue in the Big 12. BYU has exceeded capacity over the last two home games this season. The BYU-Arizona game was the most attended game at BYU since BYU-TCU in 2009.

Southern Illinois attendance: 63,712
Kansas State attendance: 64,201
Arizona attendance: 64,420

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Oklahoma

Victim Identified, 3 Arrested After Deadly Shootout In SW Oklahoma City

Published

10 hours ago

October 16, 2024

Press Room

Victim Identified, 3 Arrested After Deadly Shootout In SW Oklahoma City

New details have been released about the suspects arrested after a deadly weekend mass shootout where 15 people were shot.

A 19-year-old died in the shooting that happened at an event center in Southwest Oklahoma City.

“I feel sorry for his mom and his family and everything,” Jose Avila, a friend of the victim, said.

On Monday, police confirmed that Gerardo Sandoval, nicknamed “Junior,” was the person killed early Saturday morning at Patty’s Event Center in southwest Oklahoma City.

Related Story: Leaders Call For Change After Mass Shootout In SW OKC

“It’s believed that there were two groups of people that got into some sort of argument. During that argument, shots were fired,” Capt. Valerie Littlejohn with Oklahoma City Police said Saturday morning. “It appears there were multiple different shooters and different guns used.”

Police now say the argument was between Sandoval and a group of people at the scene.

It escalated to gunfire, and Sandoval was killed, and 14 bystanders were injured in the crossfire.

Police arrested 19-year-old Jaziel Ramos and 20-year-old Thomas Santiago on first-degree murder complaints.

Related Story: 1 Dead, At Least 14 Injured In Halloween Party Shootout In Southwest Oklahoma City

20-year-old Abraham Violante faces multiple complaints of assault with a deadly weapon.

“It’s just one of them things you get into an argument, and you’re under the influence, and it goes zero to a hundred real quick,” Avila said on Saturday when he came to the scene Saturday and discovered his friend had been killed.

“What can we do about it? Life goes on, but I feel bad for his mom and stuff,” Avila said.

Friends and family describe Sandoval as funny and a sweet soul whose bright smile always lit up the room.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Sandoval’s funeral costs.

Click here to donate:

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy suffers bizarre injury after 'run-in' with his cattle

Published

18 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy suffers bizarre injury after 'run-in' with his cattle

Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy would have put himself on the injury report heading into the Cowboys’ matchup against No. 13 BYU this week if he could.

Gundy revealed on Monday he “had a run-in” with his cattle over the weekend that left him with an eye injury. He conducted his weekly media briefing over Zoom.

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Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy on the field during the Tulsa game in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 14, 2024. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“I’ve got a bad eye that I didn’t think would be particularly enjoyable for people when they were looking at my pretty face in a live interview,” Gundy said. “But more importantly, it’s full of blood, and I get dizzy.

“So it’s not easy to be upright and be in a normal function. But other than that, I’m doing great.”

Gundy is going to have to keep at least one eye on the prize in a tough matchup against the unbeaten Cougars. He said the injury is improving every day.

“I’m fine, and it should get better every day,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll get a little better. But I’m fine. I’m working the same hours. I mean, it’s no big deal. I just didn’t think it was very appealing.”

FOX NEWS DIGITAL SPORTS’ COLLEGE FOOTBALL WINNERS AND LOSERS: WEEK 7

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on the sideline during the West Virginia game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Oklahoma State finds itself 0-3 to start Big 12 Conference play and 3-3 overall. Two of its three losses came at the hands of ranked opponents – Utah and Kansas State.

BYU has emerged as one of the teams to beat. They are 6-0 behind quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who has 1,426 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes.