Inmate shot, killed after hostage situation at Oklahoma jail; correctional officer taken to hospital

Good afternoon. I'm Greg Williams. I'm the administrator. Tokuma County Detention Center. Just after four o'clock today, Um, we had an officer who, during pill pass, was overrun by at least one inmate and taken hostage. Uh, the inmate was able to take his radio and his keys and free many of the other, uh, inmates that were on that pod. Uh, staff immediately notified our partner, law enforcement officials, uh, the sheriff's office, Sheriff's Johnson, as well as Oklahoma City. Uh, Chief Gourlay, uh, they responded and helped us resolve the incident. And the sheriff has got some comments. Mm. Evening. Sheriff. Tommy Johnson third with Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. Just the director. Williams said we were alerted to the situation of very dynamic situation. Our guys and senior tag team members were on scene. Um, they were going up. They were going upstairs to I believe it was 10. David was the pod they were at to go and address the hostage situation that had taken place. Our guys didn't have the numbers there, so they requested mutual aid from the Oklahoma City Police Department to utilize their guys to go up here and take care of the situation. Now what transpired? They go and identify the suspect they try to deescalate. And then the suspect has, you know, the detention officer in a hostage position. Something held to his neck and shots were fired. Lethal force was taken and the suspect was was shot on scene. We were able to get the detention officer out safely. Oklahoma City officers were among those who did the lethal force. So with that, I will give the floor to cheap Gourlay. Thank you, Sheriff. Wade Gourlay, chief of Police, Oklahoma City Police Department. Um, everything that we have right now is very preliminary. And for those of you that don't know how we investigate offering officer involved shootings, we will not be able to interview the officers tonight. So all the information I have is just very preliminary. Pretty much what? Uh, what the sheriff said Our officers did respond. We always have officers available and in the area. Um, just because of the nature of our work, it's a little bit different than the county who's a little more rural where they patrol. And so we were able to respond a little more quickly. The members of my police department that responded. There were some of my violent crime Apprehension team, which those folks are also tactical team members as well. And so I don't have all the information of who all else was there. But I know when we went in, we went in with county deputies to try and resolve the situation, um, to help them get up there and resolve the situation. And so I'm just glad that the detention officer wasn't more seriously hurt. And, uh, you know, we were able to get him out of there and protect him. So with that, I will take some questions, but just no, I'm not going to have hardly any answers at all just because it's very preliminary right now, we won't be releasing that until we can contact family. Was this one inmate in one hostage for over one hostage taker in one example of there? There were several people involved, and we're still trying to get at the bottom of that. Um, and we're gonna be conducting interviews. I've called several investigators in tonight to help and assist with those interviews. Um, but again, you know, we just we won't know a whole lot, right? now until we can kind of get that done and piece that all together, we will take the lead on it. Since it did involve Oklahoma City officers, the lethal force did. So we will take the lead. But we'll be working in conjunction with Oklahoma County and with the jail Trust, too. And they've been very helpful to us so far, giving us access to what we need to complete our investigation. Sir, I don't need an answer. Um, the did me Was this as a result because of the conditions in jail? Or is this like a the melting point? Cause that's what we heard a lot of people saying This is what has happened because of what's going on in the jail. This is what we told you happened. This happened and we're not surprised. Or is it just, uh, yeah, we don't know that again. I have not had an opportunity to talk to any of the inmates that were involved in this. So again, I'm like you. That's kind of what I'm hearing. But again that has not been established isn't true. And in May, the officers phone and film the hostage situation again. I'm not familiar with that, but that's what I'm hearing as well. Do we know how this transpired? As far as how the inmate was able to that the correctional? Yeah, it was during Med Pass and again during med past. Officers opened the door to hand out medication, and that's when the officer overran. Uh, I mean, the the inmate overran the officer. Was he the only one on that day again, I am checking in that. I'm not sure there would have been at least a nurse or some medical staff there as well. I know you said several inmates were involved. You have an estimate as far as how many or how many are on the floor. Yeah, there's 37 that are housed on that floor, but I'm not sure how many might have been involved Should this angry med pass was, Was a medical personnel injured in this situation? No. You teach suspect release other image from themselves with the yes, how many? I'm not sure again. It's very early on, so we have not really checked into that. So I've been pretty busy and haven't really got into that. Does anyone besides officer injured anyway, there were no other staff injured at all. Being again, this is an investigation that that we'll we'll get into that. But I'm not sure. Only part involved. Yes, sir. Can use it. Condition update on the condition of your own cuz. You okay? Yeah. He was taken to the hospital, and he is still there. But he walked out on his own accord, and we're getting good results. I mean, good reports back from the staff there, and he's gonna be fine. Yes, sir. I think he may not be elections, but I know under the previous administration, the sheriff's department team training, You all have a team that's trained to do that, or you have your life on the shirt. Yeah. We rely on the sheriff's office to do that. Will there be any changes and to receive your Yeah, I'm sure there will be Absolutely, You know, any kind of any time we have this kind of an incident and we go back and look at all of our policies and procedures and I see where we can strengthen those breaches. Can you say again? What time did this exactly started? Yeah. Again. Again. It's pretty preliminary. and I really haven't looked at the, you know, all the details about that. But it was just after four o'clock. You describe what level of particular? That's our administrative segregation pod. Uh, and that's where the inmates that are really the most difficult to manage. Your house. The 10th floor, Right. 10th floor? Yes. How many officers were part of it? Yeah, And again, I'm not sure about how many that was. Mm. I know you guys are still investigating, and I know you said that you're hearing that it is due to conditions. If you guys do confirm that, what are the steps to better their conditions? And again, we we, uh we manage those conditions continually. Uh, and again, the, uh, as we come across issues and we become across physical plant problems, and we we have contractors that come in and help us resolve that. So that's a continual kind of a thing. He's going to jail. Still on lockdown. Absolutely. Is it going to remain? Yeah, you know, probably so again we'll assess that we'll go through and kind of, uh, see how everybody's doing, and we'll check on everybody and kind of see how they're doing. But typically it's locked down at night so they can sleep anyway. So yeah, we're all the image. Yeah. I'm not sure about that. I know. You said used to investigate. You know how long it took into the inmate that was shot received? Yeah. I'm not sure about that again. It was, You know, the the inmates in the pod would not cooperate and would not locked down, so it was still kind of a hostile environment. So it was difficult to get in and take care of him. They had 36 inmates. Like once. The shot was fired when police came today. Surrender? Yeah. I'm not sure about that. Can you Can you talk about that? But incident self and they swing her. Really? Okay, of course. Robert question. Again. I'm sorry. I can't hear you. You never need No, sir. No, sir. Not at this point in time. I know that our tag team members did go and did respond and go in there. And lethal force was used past that. I really don't have very much information that I'd have to go over to the jail and be able to access camera footage and be able to see be able to properly point out times and dates so that I could get you an accurate reflection of what happened inside there. Well, once again, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and the trust. We are two separate entities. Um, we just respond in situations like this when they need us. Um, and that's what we did tonight. I super okay for sure. Good. How long did it take for you guys to get your excuses? So it looks like the original call was dispatched at 16. 22 which is 4 22 officers dispatched at 16. 27. The first, the first officer was on site at 16. 28 which is 4 28. So that is the timeline that I have. As of right now. Yes, ma'am. Anyone else? You said you would like to speak to Mr Williams? Yeah. Detention officers carry any sort of weapons, and if so, are any of them? Yeah, they do not carry weapons. No. And you don't know what sort items or materials have. You know, I don't You know what type of these acts? Injuries and correctional officers. Uh, again, I have not talked to him, and I do not have that report. Will you be asking for additional deputies before the jail? The next couple of days? I asked a shirt that said, Find out. Are you gonna have additional people in the area? Yeah, and we've got extra staff there. Now. We've called in extra staff to be there tonight and again as we go through and and I check on everyone, but I'm not sure about what we'll do in the days to come. Sure. Oh, explain for people who don't know what is the attack team, what is their responsibilities or the armored when they go in? Shields? Yes. So much like when we were alerted on any call, we get an update on how the situation is transpiring. How volatile it is. Obviously when you hear a hostage situation taking place at the jail, they came with the appropriate equipment to, you know, facilitate the needs of the operation, um, to handle the job. So, uh, yes, we responded. We responded with less lethal, responded with lethal, responded with gas. Um, anything. A tack team or SWAT team would have equipment available to them to handle the situation. In any event, we had that at our disposal. The Oklahoma City police officers take take the lead in this situation, though. Is that the reason why it was a city officer? Well, no, sir. So it was just sheer numbers. Um, much like what? Chief Gourlay said due to us, operating in mostly rural areas of the county, Um, we had to think approximately three guys that were on scene and we needed more numbers to go into this cell block. So we request the mutual aid. They were gracious enough to give us some bodies. And that's how that mixture, you know, became was the gas that was ever mentioned. Gas, gas that was ever actually deployed? Yes, Yes. Was deployed. Yes, sir, for one. I'm not sure, ma'am. I'm not sure on that, But I know gas was Was the gas used? Get the inmates. Yes. Yes. Anyone who's searching for the people that I know And this is a problem in question. Hello. Since this is a occurred to the job of an investigation like this take, You've got something We have to talk to you. How long we started. Yes, Every officer involved Shooting is different. This one is very unique. Because we have I couldn't even give you a number. But we have a large amount of people to interview. Um, and, uh, you know, not just jail staff, but, um, there was, you know, several of our officers that were in there, too, So I couldn't give you a timeframe. We try to do these, these become a priority. So, uh, and again, we brought in extra resources just to deal with that tonight so we can try to get information information as quickly as we can, And I know that's very important, um, to try and get that out. But this is just a very unique situation that it's it's gonna be complicated, and it's gonna take us a while, but we will provide updates as we as we get them because of what happened to gentlemen, It's intense moments outside the gate. Are you bringing the extractors anti in case you're in protest? Make it out? Yeah, people like we saw last year, we we monitor those things. Um and, uh, you know, in most cases, what we find is, um if you let those people have their voice, just leave him alone. Um, it keeps things from from getting out of hand. And so that's that's what we'll hopefully will happen tonight is if people want to have their voice and protests, they'll be allowed to do that and shouldn't take any involvement from us. But we'll monitor, and if we need to intervene, we will, but I don't expect that.

Inmate shot, killed after hostage situation at Oklahoma jail; correctional officer taken to hospital

Updated: 9:38 PM EDT Mar 27, 2021

A hostage situation that unfolded Saturday evening at the Oklahoma County Jail has ended after authorities said police officers shot and killed an inmate who took a correctional officer hostage.Aaron Brilbeck, with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, told sister station KOCO-TV that the inmate took the officer hostage while on the 10th floor of the jail.Police officials said the officer has been rescued and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The extent of the injuries has not been released. During the hostage situation, people went to the jail to protest the conditions and the treatment of the inmates inside the jail.Authorities planned to provide details at a news conference Saturday evening.

A hostage situation that unfolded Saturday evening at the Oklahoma County Jail has ended after authorities said police officers shot and killed an inmate who took a correctional officer hostage.

Aaron Brilbeck, with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, told sister station KOCO-TV that the inmate took the officer hostage while on the 10th floor of the jail.

Police officials said the officer has been rescued and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The extent of the injuries has not been released.

During the hostage situation, people went to the jail to protest the conditions and the treatment of the inmates inside the jail.

Authorities planned to provide details at a news conference Saturday evening.

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