Sheriff's Reports 3-26-24: Arrestee accuses deputy of violating his Bill of Rights

A deputy reportedly got an earful of vulgarities while transporting a man to jail.

On March 24, Cherokee County Sheriff's Lt. Tanner Hendley was requested to assist Game Warden Cody Youngblood with a traffic stop on Over the Hill Road. Youngblood advised the driver said he wasn't comfortable and wanted more officers for the traffic stop. Jeremy Darnell Barnett said he was Native with Creek Nation and his Oklahoma driver's license was suspended, but his out-of-state license was still valid. Hendley discovered that Barnett had two prior convictions of driving while suspended in Muskogee. The vehicle was going to be towed since family members of the driver were too far away at the time and Barnett was transported to jail. According to Hendley's report, Barnett said the deputy didn't have the authority to arrest him because he was Native. He also accused Hendley of being a "racist pig," as well as other vulgar names. Barnett was said to have calmed down once they got to the jail and he was booked for driving under suspension.

On March 23, Deputy Triston Hoskin was dispatched to Oklahoma Station due to a possible domestic disturbance. The deputy met with a woman who appeared distraught and frantic. She accused Greg Unger of assaulting her, broke her cell phone, and left the area on foot. Deputy Joseph Burkett located the man and transported him back to the store. Unger was taken to the Cherokee County Detention Center and booked on anticipated tribal charges of domestic assault and battery.

Deputy Shawn Cowart was called to Garden Walk apartments March 24 for reports of a disturbance. Cowart arrived and made contact with Brandon Kyle Tidwell, who said he was dropped off at the apartments to fight a man. Tidwell was arrested for public intoxication and booked on anticipated tribal charges.