Law Enforcement Highlights Trash Dumping Issues After Arrest Of Man In Tulsa County

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s office says trash dumping is a big problem and they recently arrested a man accused of dumping an extreme amount of trash on the right of way, outside of his home.

They say people who live in the county often think they can dump whatever they want, but that’s not the case.

One neighbor says Rodney Smith and the trash piled outside his home, is the worst part of where she lives. She says she won't have company over because of how Smith's front yard looks.

East 76th Street in Turley is a nice neighborhood, but one property sticks out.

"The sanitariness of it is horrible, it smells bad but then you see just debris it's like they almost went to the dumpster and emptied the dumpster onto the property," said Deputy Richie Gonzales with the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Gonzales says Rodney Smith is unemployed and lives with his mother. Records show Smith was arrested on March 10th for misdemeanor dumping trash on public property.

"Let's get them on a program give them a timeline where they need to get the yard done, they can get arrested, pay to bond out, and go to the court get a fine but let's get them on a timeline to get stuff off their property," said Gonzales.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office says neighbors are asking deputies to manage this mess and help get their neighborhood looking presentable.

"It really sends a clear message to your neighbors, is that I don't respect you at all, you know, whatever view I'm going to give you is the view you're going to get and I think that's really sad," said Gonzales.

Deputy Gonzales says that dumping is becoming a bigger issue because people believe living in the county allows them to do whatever they want.

"The state statutes determine if it's within 100 yards within that center of the roadway or another house, you can't just collect garbage, junk, and debris and believe that's ok'" said Gonzales.

News On 6 spoke to a woman who said Smith was home but said he did not want to speak with us.

Records show Smith has been arrested twice before for dumping trash, in February of 2022 and again in July of 2022.

Both times, he was ordered to pay fines.

If need help clearing your yard, can call the Department of Environmental Quality at 405-702-6203.