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A practicing attorney walks into city hall seeking public records about grant fraud. He leaves in handcuffs, charged with crimes he didn't commit, his legal career derailed by the very system he once served. This is the story of how one lawyer's investigation into Tulsa city corruption turned him from respected attorney to targeted activist.
The Breaking Point That Changed Everything
Ron Durbin had never been arrested in his life. As a well-respected attorney, he had dedicated his career to working within the legal system. But after witnessing repeated government overreach against everyday citizens, something snapped. When regulatory agencies shut down a business with 65 employees over minor infractions, forcing families to lose their livelihoods overnight, Durbin realized the system was irreparably broken.
The final straw came during a seven-hour government inspection that felt more like a witch hunt than legitimate oversight. Watching officials desperately search for violations to justify their presence, Durbin made a decision that would cost him everything: he would fight back.
The Records Request That Triggered Retaliation
In 2023, Durbin arrived at Tulsa City Hall for the third time, seeking records about improper spending of federal funds by the city council. Previous attempts had been stonewalled, with officials claiming they didn't understand how to process open records requests. This time, city attorneys Gerald Bender and Pat Kennedy had specifically directed him to return and request records from specific departments.
But something was different on this visit. Security guard Richard Testerman kept staring at Durbin with an intensity that made his skin crawl. The stare reminded him of accused killer Bryan Kohberger: cold, predatory, unblinking. When Durbin joked about needing his wife's permission if Testerman wanted a date, the guard's hostility only intensified.
The Grab That Started It All
After confirming he could access the fourth floor, Durbin said clearly: "Well, let's go to the fourth floor." He took one step forward. That's when Testerman reached out and grabbed him.
"Do not touch me, man. Back up," Durbin said, brushing off the guard's arm. Instead of backing down, Testerman lunged forward aggressively. Durbin pushed him away while holding papers, acting in clear self-defense as the video shows him repeatedly backing toward the exit.
In his police report, Testerman would later claim Durbin punched him in the chest. The footage tells a different story: a man defending himself against an aggressor while trying to de-escalate and retreat.
The False Report and Coordinated Cover-Up
Initially, Testerman said nothing to responding officers. Durbin even told police he wouldn't press charges, preferring to handle the civil rights violation in federal court. But after Durbin left, something changed. Testerman's own 911 recording reveals the smoking gun: "I didn't know what the city wanted to do."
The city of Tulsa, the same entity Durbin was investigating for grant fraud, apparently decided Testerman should file charges. In his false police report, Testerman claimed assault while omitting that he was the aggressor who grabbed Durbin first. The Tulsa Police Department, which works for the city Durbin was investigating, dutifully issued a warrant.
The Arrest That Defied Logic
When Durbin tried to turn himself in at the jail, they rejected him, saying he'd have to wait hours. So he went to the courthouse instead. That's where things turned surreal: while attempting to voluntarily surrender, deputies threw him to the ground and piled on top of him.
The result? An additional charge of resisting arrest for trying to turn himself in. Durbin has already been found not guilty of that fabricated charge, but the battery case stemming from defending himself against Testerman's grab is heading to trial.
The Price of Questioning Power
Today, September 8th, 2025, Durbin faces a jury trial in Tulsa County. He's being prosecuted because a security guard grabbed him and he had the audacity to push back. But the real crime isn't battery, it's asking the wrong questions about government corruption. The message is clear: investigate us, and we'll destroy you.
The footage of these events raises disturbing questions about what happens when citizens seek transparency from their government. How far will officials go to silence accountability journalism? And what does it mean for democracy when seeking public records can land you in handcuffs?
Watch the full arrest footage and courthouse confrontation that exposes how the system retaliates against those who dare hold power accountable.
