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A routine attempt to file public records requests at the Tulsa County Courthouse turned into a violent confrontation when Deputy Nelson physically assaulted a young journalist and falsely accused him of attacking an officer. The entire incident was captured on video, revealing a shocking pattern of government officials refusing transparency and using force against those who demand it.
What started as a simple records request quickly exposed deeper problems with how Tulsa County handles public accountability.
The Records Request That Officials Didn't Want to Process
Journalists Ron and Lee Durbin arrived at the public defender's office seeking routine public records under Oklahoma's Open Records Act. Instead of compliance, they encountered immediate resistance from staff who claimed they had no records clerk available to process requests.
The office's response violated Title 51 of the Oklahoma Open Records Act, which requires public entities to have staff available during business hours to accept and process records requests. When the Durbins asked where they should go instead, officials couldn't provide an answer or point to required signage indicating an alternative location.
The pattern of obstruction was just beginning.
Deputy Nelson's Unprovoked Attack on Camera
While Ron continued pressing for records compliance, Lee began filming the hallway near the elevators. What happened next defied all logic and training protocols for law enforcement interaction with journalists.
Deputy Nelson approached Lee without warning, attempted to rip the $1,000 camera from his hands, and immediately forced the young man's arms behind his back into handcuffs. No verbal commands were given. No explanation was offered. No crime had been alleged.
The deputy later claimed Lee had "swung at him" during the encounter, but the video evidence tells a dramatically different story.
The False Accusation That Could Have Destroyed Everything
After handcuffing Lee, Deputy Nelson made a stunning admission to other officers: he didn't know why he had been called to the scene or what incident he was responding to. Despite this complete ignorance of the situation, he had already detained a journalist and would soon fabricate a story about being attacked.
The lie about Lee swinging at the officer represents the kind of false police reporting that destroys lives and sends innocent people to prison. Without video evidence, Lee could have faced serious criminal charges based entirely on Deputy Nelson's fabricated account.
Even other officers on scene appeared confused about why Lee remained in handcuffs.
A Father's Anguish and a Son's First Taste of Police Violence
For Lee Durbin, who had never been handcuffed or experienced police aggression, the sudden violence was traumatic and bewildering. He had not spoken a single word during the encounter yet found himself detained and accused of assault.
Ron Durbin, watching his son being brutalized for exercising constitutional rights, struggled with his own emotional response while demanding supervisors and accountability. The incident caused lasting psychological damage to Lee, who had never experienced such unprovoked aggression.
The video captures the raw emotion of a father helplessly watching his child being abused by those sworn to protect and serve.
Internal Affairs and Swift Justice
Within 24 hours, the sheriff's department launched an internal investigation. Under Sheriff Brown personally reviewed the video evidence and took statements from all involved deputies. The conclusion was swift and decisive: Deputy Nelson's offer of employment was rescinded immediately.
But the video raises disturbing questions about what might have happened if cameras hadn't been rolling. How many similar incidents occur without documentation? How many false reports go unchallenged?
The criminal case against Deputy Nelson is still pending, and the full extent of his actions that day may not be revealed until court proceedings begin. The complete confrontation, including moments of escalating tension not captured in this transcript, can only be seen in the full video documentation.
Watch the complete footage to see exactly what Deputy Nelson did and how other officers responded when they realized the magnitude of his mistakes.
