Author Topic: No charges for man who shot Oklahoma police chief four times (Read 10606 times)

Nightcrawler · « **on:** January 18, 2015, 12:24:12 am »

http://fox13now.com/2015/01/17/no-charges-for-man-who-shot-oklahoma-police-chief-four-times/

Ralph Ellis

CNN

(CNN) — No charges have been filed against a man who shot the police chief of a small town in Oklahoma four times, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says.

Sentinel Police Chief Louis Ross was shot Thursday morning after he entered a house looking for the person who allegedly phoned in a bomb threat to a Head Start center, CNN affiliate KFOR reported.

Ross was shot by the man living in the house, KFOR said. The chief had just donned a protective vest, which is credited with saving his life, the OSBI said in a press release. His condition was not available Saturday night.

Click here for local coverage of this story from FOX 13 News sister station KFOR in Oklahoma.

“The man who shot and wounded the Sentinel police chief will not be arrested at this time,” the release said. “OSBI investigators have extensively interviewed the man. Facts surrounding the case lead agents to believe the man was unaware it was officers who made entry.”

“We almost lost a good man,” Sentinel Mayor Sam Dlugonski told KFOR. Sentinel, population 900, is about 100 miles from Oklahoma City.

The OSBI said somebody called 911 about 4 a.m. Thursday to report a bomb had been placed in the Head Start center.

While a bomb squad searched the building and didn’t find any explosives, the chief and deputies went to the home where they thought the bomb threat originated, the OSBI said.

“They made entry, cleared the first bedroom, started to clear the second bedroom, he opened fire on police and shot our chief three times in the chest and once in the arm,” Dlugonski told KFOR.

The resident, who was not hurt, surrendered to police after the shooting.

In a press release issued Friday, the OSBI said it had determined the bomb threat call did not originate from the man’s house. Dlugonski said the caller used the resident’s name, KFOR reported.

KFOR reported that officers entered the house without a search warrant.

One Sentinel resident said he understood why the shooting happened.

“This is country, this ain’t Oklahoma City,” Jimmy Rhoades told KFOR. “You’re taught from a young age that if somebody comes into your house to shoot.”

Ross was wearing a protective vest loaned to him by a Was___a County deputy, the OSBI said.

“The vest saved Ross’s life,” the OSBI said.

CNN’s Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report.

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Yikes. That could've gone a lot worse for everybody.

WeTheArmed.com

Matthew Mayner · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2015, 01:05:38 am »

Well that could have ended up a LOT worse.

Quote

While a bomb squad searched the building and didn’t find any explosives, the chief and deputies went to the home where they thought the bomb threat originated, the OSBI said.

You DON'T ninja up on THOUGHTS!

ksuguy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2015, 01:22:22 am »

Yeah sounds like the chief did just about everything wrong there. It is fortunate that nobody died because of his stupidity.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2015, 01:37:38 am »

Sounds like who ever called in the threat may have had a grudge against the resident. Setting up both the Chief and the resident.

MTK20 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2015, 01:44:03 am »

This is crazy. I'm so glad the innocent citizen didn't get filled full of holes. Hopefully the police chief recovers quickly as well.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2015, 02:27:04 am »

This is the one situation I have worried about extensively with police. It is also why I have made it a point to know almost all of our local LEOs on a first name basis. I know our local SWAT team has hit the wrong location(sadly, more than once). I can only hope, from the outside looking in, that after their last screw-up, whatever changes that needed to be made were in fact implemented.

I have no doubt that if this story were about me, I'd be dead, my dog would be dead, maybe an officer(s) as well.

Tragic as this is, I am relieved there were no deaths. But- I wonder how in hell they got the brakes put on the whole mess before there was a fatality?

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2015, 02:32:10 am »

I think what happened was, the guy who called in the bomb threat used the resident of the home's name.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2015, 02:47:57 am »

That's what the press is saying. But that's where this went to hell in a hand basket, eh?

Think on it- How many of us that post here on WTA hang with or are the types the police would EVER have a legitimate reason to serve a warrant on? How many of us know about these crackhead gangbanger types with fake LEO gear, and would take that into account when the door comes off the hinges at zero dark thirty?

Let's say some joker calls in a bulls___ this/that/the other and uses your/my name or address? If the whole warrant process is deemed "too slow" by anyone in the LEO chain of command due to perceived "threat level"? More than likely there will be fatalities.

Somewhere back in the archives when we first started WTA we had a thread about no-knock warrants. I was then, and always will be against them, because of cases EXACTLY like this.

EDIT- Yes, I know they didn't have a warrant in this case, but that's where the whole sneaky no-knock thing comes into play- If the cops need to hit somewhere, fine. Hit it fast and hard? Also fine. But they better damn well have enough "police presence" to light up and wake up the whole flippin' neighborhood leaving NO DOUBT AT ALL that they are, in fact, the police the INSTANT that door goes down, if not a few seconds before.

Nightcrawler · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2015, 03:02:08 am »

Yeah, truth be told, I don't see the value of a no-knock warrant, except in extremely limited circumstances (fear that the suspect will attempt to take someone hostage, possibly). If you've got a guy with an arrest warrant holed up in his house, why not just surround the place with cops and wait him out? He's not going anywhere. The cops have all the time in the world, and an entry is one of the most dangerous tactical situations. If it can be avoided, it ought to be.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2015, 03:18:45 am »

Maybe I'm just being cantankerous because it's past my bedtime, or maybe I haven't looked at enough stuff related to it yet to find it but I hope the trend I see developing in the press so far starts adding a dimension-

Seems like everyone that has been talked to on camera or had any statements published are very concerned that they almost lost the police chief. Okay, agreed. BUT-

What about what the homeowner is going through? That might be worth a bit of time and attention, eh? The poor guy might have been given a lovely case of PTSD for simply trying to get a decent nights sleep in his own home, in his own bed.

Plebian · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2015, 05:14:48 am »

Sentinel is not far from my hometown. It is like many towns in western OK. They have no local police forces, but there is a sheriff for a whole county. They have about 5-7 deputies on average as well.

I hate to say it, but the local sheriff in those regions tend to be morons, and their deputies tend to be even dumber. I am sure this sheriff could have pulled up, honked his horn and asked for the fellow to come out and talk.

If you make sure someone cannot get to a car. Then they are usually 20+ miles from any sort of town. You can just pull up announce and wait the damn fellow out. You usually have sightlines measured in miles as well. The guy is not sneaking out 'in the brush'.

freeman1685 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2015, 09:38:40 am »

I gotta wonder who the resident pissed off so much that they were willing to set him up to get very dead. Then there is the fact that the cops knew where the guy lived, with no more info than his name. Which is the oddest thing: Who in their right mind makes a threat, and then gives their name?

This all sounds like a very poorly thought out practical joke. PUNK'D anyone?

Plebian · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2015, 11:22:10 am »

Quote from: freeman1685 on January 18, 2015, 09:38:40 am

I gotta wonder who the resident pissed off so much that they were willing to set him up to get very dead. Then there is the fact that the cops knew where the guy lived, with no more info than his name. Which is the oddest thing: Who in their right mind makes a threat, and then gives their name?

This all sounds like a very poorly thought out practical joke. PUNK'D anyone?

There is like 900 people in the entire area AROUND Sentinel. You give me the name of anyone living in my hometown, and I could drive you right to their door... and their kids door... and their granddads door, etc.

When there are about 70 houses in an entire town. It is not hard to know where everyone lives.

freeman1685 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2015, 12:52:47 pm »

I don't doubt that. I was stationed at Ft. Sill. Which just means that the Chief should have know better. Unless the perp was using a burner, Caller ID should have be their first clue. And a call to the Phone Company, would have gotten around any call blocking.

Langenator · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2015, 07:12:42 pm »

Quote from: freeman1685 on January 18, 2015, 12:52:47 pm

I don't doubt that. I was stationed at Ft. Sill. Which just means that the Chief should have know better. Unless the perp was using a burner, Caller ID should have be their first clue. And a call to the Phone Company, would have gotten around any call blocking.

Sadly, seeing someone up to have SWAT kick in someone's door is far from unheard of - in fact it's called SWATting. Usually you spoof the target's phone #, then call 911 claiming to be your target and threatening to shoot the family or some such thing that will guarantee a SWAT callout.

I am kind of surprised the article didn't mention the cops doing any kind of phone trace on the 911 call, they just mention the cops got the guy's name.

TheBusinessEnd · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2015, 01:39:39 pm »

I like how the mayor says "we almost lost a good man", not "we almost murdered a completely innocent man".
Wonder who's going to pay for his new door. Bet it's not the actual responsible party.

Out of curiosity - I know this is sort of tangential - for those who approve of no-knock raids(excluding the mentioned scenario impending hostage-taking, which is already addressed under exigent circumstances), what sort of harm do you expect to see if police are required to announce themselves before kicking down a door? Any amount of devil-weed or whatever small enough to flush or otherwise dispose of within a minute or two isn't worth a SWAT raid, anyway, and with all of these occurrences of oops-wrong-house-sorry-about-that-door it seems to me that "the public" would be better served by requiring a knock-and-announce. Most peaceable people are going to be willing to open the door, and it sure would be nice to spare those folks the mental trauma and indignity of a police raid, to say nothing of the property damage. I'd even think that most petty criminals would be sufficienty cowed by flashing lights to open up.

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aikorob · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2015, 02:51:44 pm »

Usually on these stories----once the LEOs start taking fire, all heck breaks loose, and the house (and occupant) resemble swiss cheese.
What happened this time to stop the police from returning fire?

sarge712 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2015, 03:06:46 pm »

Quote from: Nightcrawler on January 18, 2015, 03:02:08 am

Yeah, truth be told, I don't see the value of a no-knock warrant, except in extremely limited circumstances (fear that the suspect will attempt to take someone hostage, possibly). If you've got a guy with an arrest warrant holed up in his house, why not just surround the place with cops and wait him out? He's not going anywhere. The cops have all the time in the world, and an entry is one of the most dangerous tactical situations. If it can be avoided, it ought to be.

Especially if there is a possibility of explosives. I for one would refuse that entry order. The last time we had our chief inside a scene it was a cluster as well. He is now required by policy to stay out in the CP and trust his team leaders to do their job.

coyotesfan97 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2015, 03:18:15 pm »

I find it curious that there are actually Departments that will actually make entry based on a sole 911 call. You surround that place, make sure your ducks are in a row if you have to make an emergency/ hasty entry, and make a phone call and/or PA announcements to get everyone out.

Explosives inside? Call everyone out if they'll come out. A slow/ deliberate search with your bomb techs to clear the structure of bodies, and turn it over to the bomb guys.

A Chief or Detectives in the stack?

SWAT guys only. The Chief stays at the CP

scarville · « **Reply #19 on:** January 22, 2015, 10:52:20 pm »

Quote from: aikorob on January 20, 2015, 02:51:44 pm

Usually on these stories----once the LEOs start taking fire, all heck breaks loose, and the house (and occupant) resemble swiss cheese.
What happened this time to stop the police from returning fire?

I wonder a little about that too. IIRC one of the resident WTA LEOs said something like: If you shoot one of ours we will put you in the ground. Maybe the sheriff suspected it was all BS but then why did he go along with the SWAT schtick?

An update.

http://kfor.com/2015/01/20/arrest-made-in-connection-to-oklahoma-bomb-threat/

Maybe I am over-reacting a bit but calling in a false report like this should be considered that same as an assault. If someone gets hurt, up it to attempted murder. If someone gets killed then manslaughter or murder charge are in order. At the very least charge the jerk with aggravated dickheadery or similar.

sqlbullet · « **Reply #20 on:** January 22, 2015, 11:24:35 pm »

Put the guy in the Chiefs vest and shoot him three times? kinda eye for an eye?

Plebian · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2015, 06:32:30 am »

Quote from: coyotesfan97 on January 21, 2015, 03:18:15 pm

I find it curious that there are actually Departments that will actually make entry based on a sole 911 call. You surround that place, make sure your ducks are in a row if you have to make an emergency/ hasty entry, and make a phone call and/or PA announcements to get everyone out.

Explosives inside? Call everyone out if they'll come out. A slow/ deliberate search with your bomb techs to clear the structure of bodies, and turn it over to the bomb guys.

A Chief or Detectives in the stack? SWAT guys only. The Chief stays at the CP

Where are people getting this idea for SWAT? There is NO SWAT in that part of the world. There are just not enough people. I figure the Police Chief made entry BECAUSE he was the only one on duty. The police force in Sentinel is prolly around 4-5 guys. It might even be smaller than that. Many police in that area are shared between multiple towns.

Elk City is the nearest larger town at about 10k people, and it is a massive city compared to most of the rest of western OK.

I can likely say that Officer Fife loaded his one bullet from his pocket and proceeded to enter the home with all the training his minimum wage Police gig afforded him.

You could likely surround and call out the entire town of Sentinel with around 4-6 guys.

Precious Roy · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2015, 05:38:06 pm »

Anyone know the last time a phoned in bomb threat in the US resulted in an actual explosive device being found? That olympic fiasco in Atlanta maybe? Are there any stats on bomb threats that find bombs vs bomb threats that don't? I'm guessing it has to be in the 99.999% range of false threats.

freeman1685 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2015, 06:58:07 pm »

You know, it's that umptheenth of one-ten thousandth of 1%, that is the reason that they have to respond. It's one of those cases of not if, but when it'll happen again.

LowKey · « **Reply #24 on:** December 31, 2016, 10:34:55 am »

I know this is a bit of thread necro, almost one year after the last post....

If I read the account correctly, the LEOs did not have a search warrant to enter this man's home.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't that be B&E "under color of the law" (I believe that's the term).

Was the Chief ever charged with a crime based on this? Seems like a pretty egregious violation of the 4A.