OKLAHOMA CITY — Freedom of Information Oklahoma supports the McCurtain Gazette-News and a lawsuit filed against the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office alleging it violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Kathryn E. Gardner, the Local Legal Initiative attorney for Oklahoma with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, filed the suit March 10 seeking body camera footage and other records on behalf of the newspaper and Chris Willingham.

The reporter had submitted open records requests to the sheriff’s office for information related to the March 2022 death of Bobby Barrick, a Choctaw Nation citizen. After deputies shot Barrick with a stun gun, he was unresponsive and later died at a hospital.

“FOI Oklahoma fully supports the McCurtain Gazette-News and strongly believes the records sought should be made available in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Records Act,” said Rob Collins, president of the statewide organization. “These records are in the public interest, and the refusal to provide them appears to be a clear violation of the law. We urge the sheriff’s office to promptly turn over the requested records.”

An audio recording released by the newspaper apparently recorded four county officials. The tape captured discussion of killing two journalists and lynching Black people. 

Contact:

Rob Collins

rob.collins@localmedia.org

405-205-9421