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A routine public records request in Warner, Oklahoma escalated into federal court this week when city officials not only refused to provide documents but taunted the requester about their defiance. The entire confrontation was captured on camera, from the initial denial to the courthouse filing of a formal lawsuit.
The Records Request That Started Everything
Guerrilla Publishing arrived in Warner seeking information about former police chief Shala Edwards, who had resigned after just eight months on the job. Edwards carried a troubling history from his previous position in Sallisaw, where he had been accused of taking money from petty cash and theft from the property room before suddenly leaving town as prosecution seemed to fade away.
When journalist Clint Morris requested basic city records including meeting minutes, agendas, and documents related to Edwards' departure, city clerk Alicia Smith and employee Lori Moore became immediately hostile. The interaction took a bizarre turn when Smith asked Morris point blank: "What are you going to do about it when I don't give you these records?"
Mean Girls and Missing Records
The situation deteriorated further when Smith and others began attacking a local citizen named Kathy on social media. The woman had simply attended a town hall meeting wearing an American flag shirt and briefly spoken with the journalists. Warner officials apparently assumed she was providing inside information about Edwards' departure.
The harassment of the innocent citizen crossed a line for Morris, who had initially offered Warner a peaceful resolution. City officials had promised cooperation during a morning town hall meeting, then went silent for weeks while attacking the woman who had generously donated $100 to help cover the journalists' travel expenses.
From Courthouse to Service
Live footage shows the entire lawsuit process unfolding in real time at the Muskogee County Courthouse. Morris filed a petition for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief, paying $194.14 in filing fees while explaining each step to viewers. The lawsuit seeks to establish clear precedent that legitimate news organizations cannot be charged excessive "search fees" that some Oklahoma municipalities use to hide public records.
Judge Orville Lodge, a former prosecutor and district attorney, was assigned to the case. Within hours, a process server drove from Claremore to deliver the legal papers directly to Warner city hall, costing an additional $250 in service fees.
The Confrontation at City Hall
When the legal papers were served, Warner officials and supporters emerged to confront the journalists. The exchange revealed the deep tensions in the small town, with locals defending officials who had hired Edwards despite his problematic history from Sallisaw.
The most revealing moment came when supporters claimed the officials "didn't hire" Edwards, only to be contradicted by video evidence showing city clerk Smith actively advising the town council during meetings about personnel decisions.
What Happens Next
The lawsuit raises critical questions about government transparency that extend far beyond Warner's city limits. If successful, it could establish legal precedent preventing Oklahoma municipalities from charging excessive fees to hide public records from legitimate news organizations.
But the deeper mystery remains unsolved: what exactly happened during Shala Edwards' brief tenure as Warner police chief, and why are officials so desperate to keep that information hidden from the public?
The full confrontation and legal filing process was captured on live video, showing exactly how citizens can hold their government accountable through the court system.
