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When an investigative journalist walked into a Pawhuska candidate forum with a $33 million lawsuit in hand, he expected to serve papers and ask hard questions. What he didn't expect was to become the target of an alleged assault while police officers watched and did nothing.
The lawsuit stems from what the journalist describes as systematic civil rights violations by Mayor Susan Bayro and City Manager Jerry Eubanks, a convicted felon with a history of methamphetamine charges and alleged embezzlement from previous positions.
The $33 Million Civil Rights Lawsuit
The federal complaint includes 11 counts against city officials, alleging violations of the First Amendment, due process rights, and Oklahoma's open meetings and open records acts. The journalist claims he was illegally removed from city council meetings for questioning the city's financial practices, including a controversial $25,000 bonus payment that lacked proper tax withholdings.
"I figured if I'm going to ask for money, I might as well ask for a lot of it," he explained during the livestream. The lawsuit specifies that any monetary recovery will be donated to charity, with the journalist stating his real goal is transparency and accountability in local government.
Serving Papers Turns Into Confrontation
At the candidate forum held at the Pawhuska Community Center, the journalist successfully served Mayor Bayro with the lawsuit papers. "You're being served personally," he told her as he handed over the documents. "Thirty-three million, I'm coming after you."
The mayor quickly left the venue after being served, but the evening was far from over. During what should have been a routine meet-and-greet portion of the forum, tensions escalated when local residents began challenging the journalist's presence and methods.
The Alleged Assault Caught on Camera
The situation exploded when a man identified as Mark Helmer allegedly grabbed camera equipment from the journalist's hand. "He just grabbed it, man, that's on camera, I got it on multiple cameras," the journalist told responding officers, demanding they arrest Helmer for battery.
Multiple police officers were present and witnessed the incident, yet refused to make an arrest despite the journalist's repeated requests to press charges. "You saw the misdemeanor committed in your presence, that's a battery," he argued. "Why won't you do your job?"
Police Response Raises Questions
The interaction with law enforcement became increasingly heated as officers, including one who identified himself as Assistant Chief Kenneth Trail, dismissed the journalist's complaints. When asked for their names and badge numbers, officers became evasive and defensive.
The journalist revealed he had recently met with officials from neighboring Osage County about allegations against Forest Smith, Pawhuska's assistant city manager, who was reportedly fired from his previous position for embezzlement related to charitable collections.
The Corruption Investigation Continues
This confrontation represents just the latest chapter in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in Pawhuska city government. The journalist has been documenting what he describes as a pattern of financial irregularities, including no-bid contracts awarded to supporters and questionable cash transactions involving tens of thousands of dollars.
But the most explosive allegations center on Jerry Eubanks, who despite his criminal history including armed robbery and methamphetamine charges, continues to serve as city manager. The journalist claims to have been contacted by former associates willing to testify about Eubanks' alleged drug dealing past and possible white supremacist connections.
The full confrontation was captured on multiple cameras and livestreamed to nearly 800 viewers, but the complete story of what happened after the cameras stopped rolling remains untold.
Watch the full livestream to see exactly how this explosive confrontation unfolded and what the officers did when they thought the cameras were off.
