Lawmaker Wants To Look At Guard Rails To Law Allowing AG To Drop Charges Against OCPD Officer

State Statute Allows Oklahoma Attorney General to Step in on County Cases

State statute says: “To initiate or appear in any action in which the interests of the state or the people of the state are at issue, or to appear at the request of the Governor, the Legislature, or either branch thereof, and prosecute and defend in any court or before any commission, board or officers any cause or proceeding, civil or criminal, in which the state may be a party or interested; and when so appearing in any such cause or proceeding, the Attorney General may, if the Attorney General deems it advisable and to the best interest of the state, take and assume control of the prosecution or defense of the state's interest therein;”

“It is in state statute and it's one of those situations where you aren’t aware of it until it happens,” said House Minority Leader, Cyndi Munson. “While he does have this power, you have to ask yourself just because you can, should you?”

Related: OCPD Officer Charged With Assault Against Elderly Man, Vietnamese American Community Reacts

How many times has AG Drummond done this in the past? 

This is the second time General Gentner Drummond has used his power to drop charges in a county case. 

“First being to dismiss a case against former representative Terry O'Donnell and now this situation here,” said Rep. Munson.

O’Donnell was accused of misusing his power to change state law, allowing his wife to become a tag agent.

Related: OCPD Investigates Incident Involving 71-Year-Old Man & Officer Placed On Administrative Leave

What's next for the OCPD officer? 

The Oklahoma City Police Department is conducting its own internal investigation that could result in non-criminal forms of accountability for the officer involved