Push Comes to Shove: Dust-Up Leads to Brouhaha Over Tribal Police Powers
NonDoc last week dove all the way into the deep end on the spat between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Okmulgee County Jail.
About two months ago, Lighthorse police arrested a man for possessing drugs near a school and delivered him to the Okmulgee County Jail. Jailer Matthew Douglas questioned whether Lighthorse police had the authority to book a suspect into the jail. Lighthorse Deputy Chief Dennis Northcross followed Douglas into the pre-booking area, violating the jail’s policy.
A scuffle between the pair ensued, resulting in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation charging Douglas with battery against a law enforcement official, a felony.
That triggered the Grand River Dam Authority to revoke a cross-commissioning agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Cherokee Nation.
And that triggered the refusal by the tribes to participate in Gov. Kevin Stitt’s One Oklahoma Task Force.
And that led to Attorney General Gentner Drummond suing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in federal court, contending Douglas can’t be charged with battery against a law enforcement official under the Nation’s laws because the code specifies that the charge is only applicable during the commission of certain crimes, none of which apply to the dust-up at the jail.
The fact that jumped out and yelled, “Surprise!” was the realization that Grand River Dam Authority police have jurisdiction in 19 counties, everywhere GRDA has transmission lines. Imagine the astonished expressions in Edmond when someone is placed in custody by a GRDA officer.
It’s common among state agencies; the Department of Environmental Quality has police, as does the Corporation Commission and others, all with widespread jurisdiction. But the cross-commissioning meant Cherokee marshals and Muscogee (Creek) Nation officers also had jurisdiction in those 19 counties.
“That’s not really what Oklahomans want,” Stitt said.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill saw it differently.
“Given the absence of any substantive issues related to the GRDA Commission, we are left to conclude that the suspension of this agreement results from pressure from Gov. Stitt and his campaign to undermine the sovereignty of tribes and deteriorate public safety,” Hill said.
More worth reading:
Hilbert to be State’s Next House Speaker
Speaker Charles McCall announced Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, was chosen by the Republican caucus Monday morning. Now 29, Hilbert will be 30 when he officially becomes the speaker. [The Oklahoman]
$33 Million Jail Death Judgment Upheld
A judge affirmed a $33 million damages award and rejected a request for a new trial in an Ottawa County civil rights lawsuit involving the 2015 death of a 26-year-old man who complained of health issues to jail and medical staff for days while a detainee at the county jail. [Tulsa World]
Jail Death Award Reduced by $61 Million
A judge has reduced a jury’s punitive damages award in a Tulsa County jail death civil rights lawsuit from $68 million to $7 million, citing “pervasive misconduct” by the plaintiff’s legal counsel. [Tulsa World]
“There isn’t a Monday that would not cede its place to Tuesday.”
— Anton Chekhov
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
