Table of Contents
A routine investigation into questionable court procedures at Pawhuska County Courthouse turned into a constitutional clash when sheriff's deputies threatened journalists with arrest for filming in the public building. The confrontation escalated until courthouse staff locked the front doors entirely, cutting off public access to the building during business hours.
The Investigation That Started It All
The journalists arrived to investigate a disturbing story: a judge had issued a protective order against a 9-year-old child, and sheriff's deputies served it at an elementary school. Under Oklahoma law, protective orders cannot be legally issued to children under 13, making the judge's decision questionable at best.
When the reporting team split up to gather information, courthouse security immediately objected to cameras in the building. Despite a posted sign claiming filming was prohibited except for "ceremonial purposes," one journalist pointed out the contradiction when security allowed other visitors to enter with phones and body cameras.
The Threats Begin
"You're free to leave," the deputy told the journalist at the security checkpoint. When asked if he was free to stay, the response was clear: "Well, you're free to leave or you're going to be under arrest." The ultimatum left no room for interpretation, forcing the journalist to leave under threat of arrest rather than face jail time.
Meanwhile, the second journalist had already entered the building and spent 32 minutes documenting what he later described as "constitutionally violating video of epic proportions." His footage captured courthouse staff refusing to provide information, contradicting themselves about their own policies, and generally creating chaos over simple requests for public records.
The Courthouse Shuts Down
When the second journalist was also threatened with arrest and forced to leave, something unprecedented happened. Courthouse staff locked the front doors of the public building during regular business hours, effectively barring all public access. The journalists watched from across the street as deputies remained inside the now-secured building.
"We have caused the Pawhuska County Courthouse to be closed and the doors locked, restricting the public access," one journalist observed. The irony was stark: in trying to prevent documentation of their policies, courthouse officials had created a more serious constitutional violation by denying public access entirely.
District Attorney's Office Provides Answers
Seeking the letter that allegedly prohibited filming, the journalists walked to the District Attorney's office at 400 North Broadway. There, a sheriff's lieutenant provided crucial information about the 9-year-old's protective order situation.
The lieutenant confirmed that deputies had simply followed court orders when serving the protective order at the elementary school. "The court gave the address for it to be served," he explained, clarifying that the sheriff's office was following judicial instructions rather than making their own venue decisions.
What the Video Reveals
The most compelling footage remains locked away in the journalists' cameras. Thirty-two minutes of interactions inside the courthouse allegedly show staff members violating constitutional rights while simultaneously claiming to follow the law. The contrast between their written policies and actual behavior appears to be stark.
Watch the full investigation unfold and see exactly what courthouse staff tried so hard to prevent from being recorded.
