Okla. City cops catch flak for mistaken teen curfew arrests

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Oklahoma City's Bricktown entertainment district

/ bricktownokc.org

(CBS/AP) OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City police are being criticized for arresting about 20 teenagers for curfew violations, and the city's police chief acknowledges mistakes were made.

The teens were arrested Saturday outside a movie theater in the Bricktown entertainment district. Some parents say the arrests came 20 minutes before the 11 p.m. curfew for those younger than 18, that some were arrested while waiting for parents to pick them up after the movie, and that they had to wait up to six hours to take their children home.

The city's curfew ordinance makes exceptions, including for those who attend a movie and are awaiting an adult for a ride home. Police Chief Bill Citty told The Oklahoman that the incident is under investigation.

Valenthia Doolin, of Oklahoma City, said she arrived to pick up her children at 10:40 p.m. and found a line of police cars and vans and her children were not answering their cellphones.

She said she eventually received a text message from her son saying they had been picked up on a curfew violation.

Doolin said officers refused to listen when they pointed out her car and said their ride was there minutes before the curfew began.

"We felt violated, harassed and frightened at the hands of Oklahoma City law enforcement," Doolin said. "Something has to be done to ensure that it never happens again."

Peggy Hammons said she, her 15-year-old daughter and her daughter's friend attended a movie that let out just before 11 p.m. and the two girls waited in front of the theater while Hammons got the car.

"A female police officer approached them, instructed them to hand over their cellphones and get over and get in that paddy wagon," Hammons said.

"They tried to explain to the police officers, and they were told to shut up and be quiet."

Citty, the police chief, said police are investigating their handling of the situation to see what went wrong.

"The ordinance does provide for legitimate reasons for someone who is underage to be out past 11 p.m.," Citty said. "If they can show they were attending the theater and are waiting for a ride to be picked up, the arrest of that juvenile would not be appropriate."

He said at least two of the citations issued Saturday have been dismissed because they shouldn't have been issued to begin with and that others could also be thrown out.

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by dragon0058 July 23, 2011 1:51 PM EDT: Every single one of those cops should be fired and not allowed to be in a law profession anywhere else in the entire country, especially that lady cop who was so rude. A decent officer allows someone to explain the situation.; Reply to this comment

by Transatlantique July 21, 2011 3:30 PM EDT

This reminds me of the time I was cited for improper lane changing resulting in a minor collision under 10 mph in Oklahoma. The cop was so rude and abrupt with me because he was young and inexperienced, and possibly prejudiced. What can one expect from Oklahoma? The Governor recently asked everyone to pray for rain when what she should have been praying for was Oklahoma to enter the 21st century. But how can that happen when they have barely left the 19th century? Those cops obviously hadn't learned how to tell time yet because the educational system ranks 49th in the country in Oklahoma. The one thing I never want to be involved with are the bored, idiot Oklahoma police. They are like the cops on Reno 911, and never around when someone is dangerously tailgating or speeding down a quiet street.

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by torqued612 July 21, 2011 11:35 PM EDT: Transatlantique, I can only assume that the name indicates you are transgender. I'm sure you dressed in drag at some point and got your sissy ass handed to you in Ok. OKC is so behind the times? When was the last time you visited? Our economy and housing market is outperforming the majority of the nation. It cracks me up how half-wits like yourself love to slam OK and have never visited the state. And if your story is actually true, you had a collision traveling under 10mph? What kind of **** can have a crash going that slow? What an absolute loser you are. Please, PLEASE don't come back.


by chris_bray July 21, 2011 3:03 PM EDT: Sue their sweat litty piggy butts. That is the only way to get their attention. A good lawyer should have a field day with this. Obviously the police chief is a moron to say they need to figure out what went wrong. Obviously what went wrong is either the cops don't have watches, don't know the law, can't tell time or are simply stupid (perhaps a combination of all four). In any case, get a lawyer.; Reply to this comment


by enlightenu July 21, 2011 1:54 PM EDT: Cops are too scared to go after real criminals these days.; Reply to this comment


by hillbillyvol July 21, 2011 1:43 PM EDT: It seems that PORKERS are showing their faces all over the nation. All of the positive vibes we had going on with LEOs seems to be fading back to the 60's and 70's era. Substitute OINKERS if it pleases you.; Reply to this comment

by j8h9 July 21, 2011 1:37 PM EDT

It's only going to get worse. In 20 years, we will be a police state.

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by to_john July 21, 2011 2:26 PM EDT: WILL be? Have you flown anywhere lately?


by houstontx006 July 21, 2011 2:26 PM EDT: We are a police state now.


by Gimmeafb July 21, 2011 1:29 PM EDT: I guess teling time or owning wrist-watches isn't a requirement og OKC police.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 July 21, 2011 1:11 PM EDT: I usually side with the cops but in this case they were morons. Like someone else said, get a life, and go after some real criminals.; Reply to this comment


by PR_in_Alabama July 21, 2011 12:59 PM EDT: OK police need to get a life...CHief should resign!!; Reply to this comment

by OmegaWolf747 July 21, 2011 12:51 PM EDT

Curfews are a violation of civil liberties in the first place. The state telling citizens when they have to be home as no place in a supposedly free country.

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by mitch0927 July 22, 2011 10:22 AM EDT: The cerfew is for Children you moron...or do you want your children to be out on the streets at all hours of the night? MORON!!