Stay the hell out of Oklahoma

Crash Victim's Family Responds To Charges Against OCPD Officer
BY DANA HERTNEKY
Court officials said an Oklahoma City police officer faces criminal charges for driving too fast and crashing into and killing a 79-year old woman. Officer Bryant Holloway was charged with negligent homicide, a misdemeanor.
According to the court documents, Officer Holloway was trying to chase down a speeder and was going 78 miles per hour 150th Street near May Avenue without lights and siren. The speed limit was posted at 40 miles per hour.
The accident happened as Marinan Reese was trying to make a left hand turn out of her neighborhood. The probable cause affidavit said Officer Holloway hit his brakes but was still going about 60 miles per hour at impact. Reece, whose son describes as a hardworking, dedicated member of her church and the Sooners, died.
 “Both the officer and the OCPD need to be held accountable, but there's no malice there or anything from our side,” said Reece's son, Steve. “We feel like this whole thing is part of God's overall plan in regards to my mom and her legacy.”
According to the court documents, Ms. Reese's view was obstructed by that hill so she couldn't see Officer Holloway coming.
“My opinion is he was going too fast,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty. “Officers have to go at a speed that still keeps the public safe.”
Chief Bill Citty said state law allows for officers to drive above the speed limit without lights and siren and so does department policy.
“If you turn the lights and siren on a lot of individuals will turn and try and hide from the officers if they're far enough away,” explained Citty.
However, Chief Citty said the department is looking at making that policy more restrictive.
“We've looked at speeds, we've had to discipline some officers for excessive speeds in certain circumstances and so we feel like there's enough of an issue there and a problem we're going to have to be a little more definitive in guiding our officers as to what their speeds will be in certain circumstances.”
Reese's family however, said they're comfortable where their mom is now and just hope some good will come from this for Officer Holloway.
“Maybe it could be a positive in his life somehow, that this accident draws him closer to his family or the Lord and that's what my mother would have wanted.”
Officer Holloway has been on administrative leave since the accident.

Officer charged in fatal accident
OKLAHOMA CITY —The district attorney is charging Officer Bryant Hollaway with misdemeanor negligent homicide.
The charges come after a violent collision with his patrol car and Marinan Reese's car.
“If there is a way for this to be a positive influence on that young man’s life, I think my mother would have been the first to raise her hand and say ‘I’ll gladly give my life if God has work to do in this young man’s life,'" Reese's son, Steve, said.
The unwavering faith of Steve Reese was passed down to him from his mother.
It’s been hard since she died, and, at times, anger has crept in.
“Both this young man and the OCPD need to be held accountable," he said.
Reese says he’s leaving that decision up to the courts and he’ll continue to put his trust in God.
“Those of us that have spent our lives in Oklahoma City know that, most of the time, that the OCPD has our safety and our well-being in mind," Reese said. "We know that God is in control and that He also showed mercy on this young man, easily both of them could have been killed.”


Officer charged in connection with pawning police items
By Michael Purdy
Oklahoma City —
An Oklahoma City officer is accused of pawning police gear, over the period of multiple months.
Newsok.com reports Travis Smith was charged on Friday with 10 felony counts of making a false declaration of ownership to a pawnbroker.
He's said to have sold a police radio, gas masks, riot gear, and a ballistic vest.
It was his supervisor who actually noticed the items were being pawned.  The supervisor was searching a database law officers can access regarding pawn shops.
"Police supervisors suspected criminal behavior when Smith displayed suspicious actions and behavior," OKC police said in a release.
All of the pawned items have been recovered.  Police also found pawn tickets, signed by Smith.

  
New Metro Police Chief Jack Lumpkin has vowed to clean up the police force.
In the meantime, Khaalis is scheduled to have his arraignment docket call at the Chatham County Courthouse Monday at 9:15 a.m.
OKC police officer charged with selling police equipment
OKLAHOMA CITY —A 14-year veteran with the Oklahoma City Police Department was charged with 10 counts of making a false declaration to a pawnbroker on Friday.
Sgt. Travis Smith, 40, is on paid leave as the charges are investigated.
Police said Smith is suspected of pawning police equipment that was property of OKC police to pawn shops in the area.
The criminal investigation is complete and now the Oklahoma City Police Department will conduct an internal investigation