A fight between juveniles and adults on Sept. 5 at the Sandpoint area of Lake Texoma that included an off-duty Durant police officer is under investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
Bryan County Sheriff Joey Tucker said in a news release that at the time calls were placed about the altercation, his deputies were responding to a person experiencing a mental health crisis who had barricaded himself inside a home with a gun.
“Because our deputies were committed to safely resolving that situation, we requested assistance from the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department and Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department to respond to the Sandpoint area until Bryan County deputies became available,” Tucker said, in the news release.
According to Tucker, when Lighthorse officers arrived, they began identifying individuals involved, including potential victims, witnesses, and suspects.
“During the initial investigation, it was learned that one of the individuals involved in the incident was an off-duty police officer employed by a local law enforcement agency within Bryan County,” Tucker said.
The Durant Police Department confirmed in a news release that it was one of their officers.
“DPD command staff is aware of the circumstances and is taking this matter very seriously,” the department said, in a news release. “To ensure transparency and impartiality, an outside law enforcement agency is conducting the investigation. We ask the public to allow the facts to develop through the investigative process and to avoid drawing conclusions before the investigation is complete.”
Tucker also said that be- cause a local police officer was involved, that the appropriate action is to have an outside law enforcement agency continue the investigation.
“This decision was made to ensure the investigation remains independent, impartial, and free from any actual or perceived conflict of interest,” Tucker said.
According to Tucker, the case has been assigned to the investigations division of the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police for more investigation. He said Chickasaw police is cross deputized with the sheriff’s office and that the department had already started the initial investigation.
“The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office believes strongly in transparency and accountability,” Tucker said. “At the same time, we must allow investigators the opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation based on the evidence and facts. We will continue to keep the public informed as additional information becomes available and can appropriately be released.”
Tucker encourages anyone who witnessed the altercation, has video or photographs and other information that could assist investigators to contact the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department at (580) 4361166 or the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office at (580) 9243000.
Durant Police said the department is committed to accountability, professionalism, public safety and maintaining the trust of the community.
“We will take any appropriate action warranted by the facts and findings of the investigation,” the department said. “We also ask our community to remember the many men and women of the Durant Police Department (who) continue to serve every day - answering calls, helping residents, and responding to difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. We appreciate the community’s concern and support as we allow the investigative process to move forward and remain committed to doing what is right.”