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A routine public meeting in Spavinaw, Oklahoma turned into chaos when a city council ally pulled a loaded gun during a heated confrontation outside city hall. The incident, captured on video, reveals a small town government at war with its own citizens over transparency and accountability. Eight days later, no charges have been filed despite clear evidence of the weapon being brandished.
The drama began before the meeting even started, as Mayor Amanda Miller delivered what appeared to be a prepared speech targeting visiting journalists with new rules about public participation and threats of removal.
Citizens Sued for Seeking Government Records
The executive session agenda revealed the shocking reason for the tension: Spavinaw had been suing its own residents for making open records requests. Four citizens, including Cindy and Mike Bradford, faced legal action simply for asking to see public documents. Despite ultimately receiving some records, the citizens never recovered their attorney fees from defending against their own government's lawsuit.
City Attorney Ron Durbin announced plans to continue pursuing legal action against residents, claiming they violated a mediated settlement agreement by discussing the case. The irony was palpable as officials discussed suing citizens for transparency while kicking the public out of their own city hall during the executive session.
Mayor Loses Control as Tensions Escalate
When a journalist quietly asked a fellow audience member to clarify a name mentioned during proceedings, Mayor Miller exploded with her gavel. Her aggressive response to a simple question revealed the hostile atmosphere city officials had created toward any form of public engagement or scrutiny.
The mayor's threats and gavel-banging display showed a fundamental misunderstanding of public meeting law and citizen rights. Her behavior set the tone for the chaos that would follow once the meeting moved outside.
City Attorney Gets Physical
After the meeting, City Attorney Durbin became confrontational when asked for his business card. The attorney, responsible for suing citizens over records requests, physically bumped into the journalist and became aggressive when told he was "having a bad day."
A toothless city councilor then joined the confrontation, falsely claiming he couldn't leave the room while belly-bumping another citizen. The citizen exercised his right to self-defense, shoving the aggressive official backward. The scene descended into multiple confrontations as officials lost all semblance of professional conduct.
The Gun That Changed Everything
Outside city hall, as heated words continued between officials and citizens, a man known as "Taco" reached into his pocket and pulled out a small Derringer revolver. The gun, clearly visible on camera, was cocked and pointed in the direction of citizen Jeff during an argument with the city councilor.
The weapon had no trigger guard, creating extreme danger for everyone present. Witnesses immediately recognized the felony nature of brandishing the firearm and tried to de-escalate the situation. Taco's casual attitude about displaying the loaded weapon suggested this might not have been his first time using intimidation tactics.
Deputies Respond But No Arrests Made
Mayes County Sheriff's deputies arrived and professionally handled the volatile situation, even taking possession of the firearm. However, despite multiple witnesses and clear video evidence of the gun being brandished, no arrests were made that night. Deputies took reports and requested all evidence be submitted for review.
The footage raises serious questions about whether Taco had been carrying the weapon inside the city council meeting itself, as no video shows him retrieving it from a vehicle. The implications of armed intimidation at public meetings strike at the heart of democratic participation and citizen safety.
Justice Delayed as Community Waits
Eight days have passed since the incident, with comprehensive evidence submitted to authorities the morning after the meeting occurred. The video evidence is unambiguous: a loaded weapon was displayed during a public confrontation in what appears to be a clear case of criminal brandishing.
But what happens next remains an open question that only the full video can answer. Will Taco face charges for his dangerous escalation? How will Mayes County authorities respond to this threat to public safety? The community waits to see if justice will be served.
Watch the complete footage to see exactly how this unprecedented confrontation unfolded and decide for yourself whether charges should be filed.
