Mayor arrested under new Oklahoma law requiring distance from law enforcement
By: -----
Ripley, OK - Vian Mayor Dennis Fletcher is charged with misdemeanor obstruction after a Payne County deputy says he refused to follow repeated orders to step back during an investigation at a high school baseball tournament.
The incident happened on March 21 at a Ripley High School baseball field near Stillwater, where Fletcher was arrested under a state law that took effect last November requiring people to keep their distance from law enforcement performing official duties.
According to the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was investigating:
* Complaints of people wanting to park on private property
* Reports of spectators using profanity during a game between Vian and Ripley the night before
While speaking with one individual about the parking concerns, the deputy says Fletcher and another man approached and attempted to join the conversation.
The deputy says he told Fletcher multiple times to back away, but Fletcher continued to engage.
Body camera footage captures the moment the deputy orders Fletcher and another man to step back:
“There’s a new state law that says if I tell you to leave, you have to leave. You have to be 25 feet away. So, go.”
The men can be heard responding that they were trying to have a conversation, with one questioning the law.
“That’s not a state law.”
“Yeah, it is a new state law… Y’all can go.”
“Are you escalating or deescalating?”
“You’re going to jail.”
The law referenced by the deputy was passed last year and requires people to maintain distance from first responders while they are performing official duties.
State Representative John George, who authored the measure, said the intent is to prevent interference.
“When we have a first responder doing their official duty, people need to stay back and allow them to do that duty.”
Video shows Fletcher being taken into custody at the scene.
According to an affidavit:
* Fletcher was not part of the initial investigation
* He refused to comply with repeated commands to step back
During the arrest, the deputy is heard explaining:
“If I’m making a contact and I tell you to get back, you have to get back… You refused to get back.”