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EMSA Busy Because of the Heat
Paramedics treated 10 people for heat related illnesses. The cases seen yesterday were not life threatening but John Graham with EMSA says paramedics are loading up rigs with extra supplies. Graham says, "The way people will die from the heat is not listening to their body. When they start feeling those cramps and not feeling well, feeling tired, they won't remove themselves from the environment." Out of the ten people treated yesterday, four were children. EMSA says children sweat less than adults and cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as healthy adults can. EMSA recommends limiting the time children spend outside during the late morning and afternoon hours and making sure they drink extra water before going outside.
At Least 3 Injured in Explosion at Oklahoma Motel
Authorities say a pregnant woman and at least two others were injured in an explosion at a motel in Yukon. Yukon police spokeswoman Klare Ly says the woman, who is eight months pregnant, and a man were critically injured in the blast at the Guest Inn Motel in Yukon about 6 p.m. yesterday. The Emergency Medical Services Authority says another person was treated at the scene. Ly said a couple other people may have suffered minor injuries. The cause of the blast wasn't immediately known, but Ly said officials don't believe it was from a methamphetamine lab. She says the pregnant woman, who is the motel's manager, suffered burns to her hands, face, lips and ears. Investigators believe the woman was closest to the blast, which may have occurred in the area of the office. Both victims suffered burns and were transported to Oklahoma City hospitals. The motel was evacuated and electric power was shut off.
15 Downtown Tulsa Property Owners File Lawsuit Over New Baseball Stadium Assessment
Property owners have named Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, City Finance Director Mike Kier, and the city of Tulsa itself in their lawsuit. A report in the Tulsa World says they're claiming that they were never given a chance to complain about, or challenge the amount that they're being assessed. The owners also claim in their lawsuit that their properties will only benefit slightly or not at all from the ballpark. It's not clear what happens to construction of the ballpark, already well underway, if the group wins the lawsuit.
8-Hour Owasso Standoff Comes Up Empty
After searching for more than eight hours for what they thought could be an armed burglary suspect in the attic space above an Owasso video store, police ended their standoff after it was determined that the suspect somehow slipped through a perimeter they had set up around a strip mall near 86th Street North and Highway 169. The incicent began around 4:00 a.m. Tuesday morning when they discovered two people trying to break into a Hollywood Video store. One suspect was captured quickly, but the other was believed to be holed up in the rafters above the ceiling. Police cleared out several of the adjoining stores because they shared the same attic space. For several hours, officers used cameras and other means to search the attic area and duct work. Shortly after noon, Police announced that the suspect was not in the building and likely escaped early on, during the few minutes before they could secure the building. Police felt confident that the other suspect who was captured would lead them to the one who escaped.
Borland Bonds Out
Tausha Borland, the Sand Springs woman accused of being drunk when she allegedly ran over and killed a pair of bicyclists, is out of jail. Her bond was originally set at 100-thousand dollars. The judge tripled her bond to 300-thousand dollars on Monday. And Tuesday morning she was released from jail after bond was posted on her behalf. Borland is under house arrest and she is not allowed to drive. She faces manslaughter and other charges, stemming from the June 9th deaths of Christa Voss and Matthew Edmonds.
Tulsa Day Center Remains Open During Heat Spell
Hours for the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless are extended with the heat alert. Director Sandra Lewis says they will not close during the heat spell because the night hours are hot as well. Yet Lewis knows some on the street refuse to use the shelter even when the weather is life threatening. There are outreach groups urging them to seek a cool shelter. With the numbers climbing as more people seek a cool spot, Center supplies are strained. Lewis says summer clothing is needed as well as toiletries and bottled water.
Cauliflower Ear Suspect Arrested
That cauliflower ear. It is easily seen in photos taken during a Broken Arrow Walgreen's holdup. The armed robber caught in the act in the pictures was stealing drugs. People who saw the pictures distributed by the media, provided tips to the police about a suspect. Police say they arrested 28 year old Kristopher Brown of Coweta in connection with the Sunday holdup.
City Councilor’s Son Off Tulsa Police Force
Nepotism laws force a Tulsa City Councilor's son to resign from the police force. Rick Westcott's son, Chris, was set to graduate from the Tulsa Police Academy this week, but state law will prohibit him from doing so. All sides are pleading ignorance and Rick Westcott says the state's nepotism laws may need to be tweaked. Rick Westcott, a former Tulsa Police officer himself, says his son, Chris, has always dreamed of serving on the force. He says when his son enrolled in the academy in January, no one mentioned nepotism. "But, he never deceived anyone, never intended to deceive anyone. He always told everyone who his father was," said Tulsa City Councilor Rick Westcott. But, Oklahoma law states police departments, or any other city department, cannot hire relatives of elected officials. As a result, Chris Westcott was forced to resign on Monday, only four days before his graduation from the academy. "It's simple from the standpoint that the law's pretty black and white. It's this is how it shalt be," said City of Tulsa Attorney Deirdre Dexter. City Attorney Deirdre Dexter says there wasn't any wrong-doing in this case, just a lack of familiarity with the law. She says nepotism laws were implemented to avoid any appearance of influence. "The fear that a department will either feel compelled to hire a family member out of fear that they might be retaliated against if they didn't," said City of Tulsa Attorney Deirdre Dexter. The senior Westcott volunteered to resign his city councilor position, but says he was told because the violation had already occurred, it wouldn't change anything. He says his son is disappointed, but remains committed to pursuing a career in law enforcement. "There will be good things that come from this. We look forward to Chris having a very long, very wonderful career in law enforcement," said Tulsa City Councilor Rick Westcott. Westcott is certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. That means he can get a job with any other department in the area. Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer declined to comment, saying he can't talk about personnel issues.
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