Broken Arrow Firefighter Placed On Leave, Accused Of Pointing Gun After Keystone Lake Incident

A Broken Arrow Firefighter is on administrative leave after the Pawnee County Sheriff’s office says the firefighter was arrested, accused of grabbing and loading a gun because sand got thrown into his boat. 

It happened in July at Keystone Lake. The Pawnee County Sheriff says this situation should've never gone this far.

Sheriff Darrin Varnell says anyone in a job that’s a position of public trust should hold themselves to a higher standard. 

The sheriff says Justin Williams, a Broken Arrow Firefighter drove his boat to Motorcycle Island on July 28th. 

He says William's boat was docked and a group of people driving ATVs, caused sand to hit William's boat and that's when tempers flared. 

“What I was told is that his son was in the boat and son handed him the gun, at which point he chambers a round and then just sits there holding it down next to his leg and then jumps back into his boat and takes off,” Sheriff Varnell said.

The affidavit says witnesses told police Williams threatened to shoot the gun, and Sheriff Varnell says several people also said Williams was drunk.

The sheriff says because Williams left, deputies couldn't confirm he was intoxicated. 

“We can't verify that he was that's just what everybody there was telling us, and if you've got one person saying it 50/50 but if you've got six, seven, eight, nine telling you the same thing you tend to think that maybe there might be some credibility to it,” said Varnell. 

Sheriff Varnell says this situation could’ve ended in a tragedy and it all could’ve been avoided. 

“You know, alcohol, tempers, and firearms never mix … I mean you're talking lots of families out there, children, lots of people involved, if a round would have went off there's no telling where it would have hit or who it would have hit,” said Varnell. 

Sheriff Varnell says either Williams or his son told people in the crowd, Williams was a cop and something like this, can make all law enforcement officers look bad.

“What you do for a living doesn't excuse those actions,” said Varnell. 

Justin Williams was a Tulsa County Reserve Deputy.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office sent us a statement that says:

“Justin Williams passed all required background checks and was a member of the Broken Arrow Fire Department when became a member of TCSO’s Reserve Deputy Program on Jan. 2, 2024. On July 30, 2024, The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office notified us that Williams was involved in an alteration in their jurisdiction and that criminal charges were possible. Williams was suspended from the Tula County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Program that same day. Now that Williams has been criminally charged, he will be terminated as a TCSO Reserve Deputy.”

The Broken Arrow Fire Department sent us a statement that says:

“Broken Arrow Fire Department is aware of an off-duty firefighter who was involved in an encounter outside Broken Arrow city limits. An internal investigation has been opened to thoroughly review the situation. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation.”

News on 6 called Williams for comment, but he never responded.