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A Pawhuska city council meeting erupted in chaos Tuesday night when Mayor Susan Bighorse silenced a reporter investigating City Manager Jerry Eubanks' criminal history and the city's financial practices. The confrontation escalated when a citizen made physical contact with the journalist, creating potential grounds for assault charges.
Reporter Ron was addressing the council during public comment when Mayor Bighorse abruptly cut him off and ordered his removal. His crime? Questioning why the city trusts financial reports from a man with multiple felony convictions.
The Questions That Triggered the Ejection
Ron had been examining the city's financial documents when he noticed troubling patterns. The reports consisted of basic Excel spreadsheets with no supporting invoices, unexplained late fees, and suspicious round-number amounts that raised red flags about their authenticity.
"You're trusting a man who's been imprisoned for doing things illegally," Ron told the council before being interrupted. When he attempted to continue his three-minute allotted time, Mayor Bighorse declared him out of order and called for his removal.
The timing wasn't coincidental. Ron had previously exposed an alleged affair involving the mayor's husband at City Hall, creating obvious tension between him and Mayor Bighorse.
The $122,000 Mystery and Missing Invoices
Before his ejection, Ron highlighted several concerning financial irregularities in the city's reports. The documents showed $122,000 in legal fees for a single month, paid to a city attorney who has since quit. No itemized invoices were provided to explain these massive expenditures.
Additional red flags included a $700 late fee to a bank for a missed payment, raising questions about the city's financial management under Eubanks' leadership. When Ron requested to see actual balance sheets and profit-loss statements rather than spreadsheets, he was told the city doesn't provide that level of documentation.
The city's former auditor quit in the middle of last year's audit, leaving questions about who is overseeing the municipality's books.
Physical Confrontation and Escalating Tensions
Outside the meeting, tensions boiled over when a local resident approached Ron and his cameraman aggressively. The confrontation included the man allegedly making physical contact and verbal threats, creating potential grounds for assault charges.
The incident was captured on video, showing the volatile atmosphere surrounding anyone who questions the current city leadership. Multiple residents expressed support for the investigation while others became hostile toward the journalists.
The Criminal Record That Can't Be Discussed
Eubanks' criminal history includes armed robbery convictions in Arkansas, drug possession and distribution charges, and firearm violations. Most recently, he faces three current felony embezzlement cases from other cities, with court dates scheduled for November 2024.
When confronted about these allegations earlier that day, Eubanks told Ron on camera that "people make mistakes." This response from someone managing a city's finances raised additional concerns about accountability and judgment.
What Happens Next Remains Unclear
The abrupt end to Ron's public comment period, combined with the mayor's obvious bias, has created potential grounds for civil rights violations. The three-minute public comment period is legally protected speech, and cutting it short without cause may constitute government overreach.
Watch the full confrontation unfold and see exactly what questions the city didn't want asked in the complete video above.
