Tulsa World: Local, State Briefs

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Local, State Briefs

Firefighter Mike Burgess carries equipment through a courtyard at the Inhofe Plaza apartments Monday evening. Dozens of residents were evacuated from the building after a cooking fire sent smoke throughout the structure. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World

By Staff and AP Reports
Published: 10/27/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 10/27/2009 4:31 AM

Tulsa apartment building evacuated because of fire

Residents of a Tulsa Housing Authority apartment building were evacuated Monday after a kitchen fire filled the building with smoke.

Tulsa Fire Department Capt. Alan Barnes said a woman was watching television while cooking in her home at Inhofe Plaza, 6565 S. Newport Ave., and didn't hear a smoke alarm when the food caught fire about 6:30 p.m.

The fire was contained to the kitchen, but 34 people from the six-story building were evacuated while firefighters cleared smoke from the building, Barnes said.

Firefighters searched each floor of the building and found some residents who were not able to walk down the stairs, so they had them "shelter in place," Barnes said.

In such situations, residents generally keep doors and windows closed and shut off any vents that could bring smoke inside their apartments.

Other residents, some of them elderly, huddled in blankets and coats outside the building. Six people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, but no one required hospital treatment, Barnes said.

In addition to smoke detectors, the building has a fire-sprinkler system, but it was not activated.

The residents were allowed back into their apartments after the smoke was cleared.

- MATT BARNARD, World Staff Writer

Surveillance photos of bank robbery released

Police have released surveillance photos of a man who robbed a Tulsa bank Saturday.

The robber waited in line behind a customer at the Bank of the West at 2201 E. 21st St. for several minutes.

He then showed the customer a black semiautomatic handgun and told her that he would shoot her if the bank didn't give him all of its money, police said.

A bank employee waited on him, and he repeated his threat to shoot the customer if he wasn't given money, police said.

He fled on foot with an unknown amount of cash, police said.

No one was injured in the robbery, which police said was the 27th of a Tulsa financial institution in 2009.

The robber was described as either a Middle Eastern or tanned white man who is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and weighs 170 to 180 pounds.

He was wearing something on his head that was described differently by bank employees and customers.

He also had a full beard that was described variously as looking fake, neatly trimmed and having rigid lines around the cheeks and mustache.

He was wearing safety glasses with an orange tint, a brown-and-green camouflage jacket and pants, and black high-top tennis shoes with Velcro strips.

Anyone with information about the robber should call the Robbery Tip Line at 527-0085 or e-mail robbery@ci.tulsa.ok.us.

- SHANNON MUCHMORE, World Staff Writer

Man charged in August bank robbery is arrested

A man who was charged with robbing a Tulsa bank in August was arrested early Sunday, jail records show.

Vernon James Hill, 24, was charged Sept. 29 with first-degree robbery in connection with the Aug. 26 holdup at the IBC Bank branch in the 4200 block of South Garnett Road.

Police said the thief approached a teller and demanded cash.

After threatening to shoot the tellers, the man collected a bag full of money and ran to a nearby apartment complex, police said.

The employees never saw a weapon, according to police.

Hill was arrested just after midnight Saturday night, jail records show.

- NICOLE MARSHALL, World Staff Writer

Authorities identify victim of Tulsa shooting

Police have released the name of a man who was critically wounded in an apparent drug-related shooting this weekend.

Clifford Scott Dodson, 37, was shot in the neck in a parking area near a detention pond at 11600 East 14th Street shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Dodson, his girlfriend and her daughter then drove to the Motel 6 at 1011 S. Garnett Road, where police were called.

The shooting apparently occurred during a drug deal, according to preliminary police reports.

The shooter fled on a black BMX bicycle, police said.

- NICOLE MARSHALL, World Staff Writer

Man jailed in brother's killing, then released

WEWOKA — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has reported that a Wewoka man was arrested in the weekend stabbing death of his brother — then released when investigators found support for the man's claim of self-defense.

OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown said Erwin Wimberly, 44, died after being stabbed about 9 p.m. Saturday by Labron Cosby, 51.

Brown said witnesses told investigators that the brothers were arguing in a vacant lot in Wewoka.

Brown said Cosby was arrested on a murder complaint but was released Sunday after an initial investigation found support for his self-defense claim.

No charges have been filed.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

State Dem exec's son dies in accidental shooting

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City police have identified a man who was accidentally shot and killed in a pawn shop as Jason Baggett, 32, of Oklahoma City.

Baggett is the son of Oklahoma Democratic Party Secretary James Baggett.

Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said an employee of the Freedom Pawn Shop in northwestern Oklahoma City was looking for a serial number on a rifle that had been brought into the store when the weapon discharged Saturday afternoon.

Wardlow said Jason Baggett was the owner of the pawn shop.

Baggett died at the scene.

Wardlow said investigators believe that the shooting was accidental.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drinking in public could draw jail term in Norman

NORMAN — People caught drinking in public in Norman could be sentenced to as much as 10 days in jail under a proposed ordinance being considered by the City Council.

The council is scheduled to consider the proposal during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Frazier said the new ordinance is a request from the Municipal Court Clerk's Office.

People caught drinking in public now can be fined $50 to $500.

Frazier said the idea behind the ordinance is to give municipal judges more discretion when sentencing chronic or repeat offenders.

She said the plan is not part of an effort to target students or game-day crowds at University of Oklahoma football games.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boy missing seven hours had gone to WalMart

NORMAN — Police say a missing 11-year-old boy has been found safe.

Demontrey O'Guinn returned home on his own Sunday evening after disappearing earlier that afternoon, authorities said.

Officers said the boy apparently had gone to WalMart.

The boy was reported missing about 1 p.m. and returned home about 8 p.m., police said.

The search for him included the Oklahoma City police helicopter and local firefighters and police officers, and Norman Public Schools sent out an electronic alert.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By Staff and AP Reports

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Inhofe Plaza evacuated after kitchen fire fills building with smoke," which was published on 10/26/2009.

	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (10/26/2009 10:15:23 AM) Tragic.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (10/26/2009 10:32:18 AM) So sad.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (10/26/2009 11:23:34 AM) Family unity.
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/26/2009 11:26:17 AM) Wow, their poor parents.
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/26/2009 11:42:22 AM) Nice snag TPD...
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/26/2009 11:43:14 AM) Obviously no brotherly love here....
	Report Comment ranay22, Ponca City (10/26/2009 12:17:32 PM) hey, that dude robbed the bank on my birthday
	Report Comment WideAwake, (10/26/2009 12:44:47 PM) He'll be back again and again. His baybays will too.
	Report Comment okierose, Tulsa County (10/26/2009 12:55:52 PM) I never understood why if you rob a bank, you stay in the area. Too much of a chance to get arrested. Dumb criminal. Also, his head is tilted, but there's no neck tattoo. :(
	Report Comment messy, tulsa (10/26/2009 1:42:00 PM) Well, at least he waited in line.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/26/2009 1:43:26 PM) hmm... kind of looks like a GI Joe fake beard by Mattel...
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/26/2009 1:57:05 PM) Maybe he needed money for a deer tag....
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/26/2009 2:00:15 PM) shaw411 ha, very good!
	Report Comment QLC, (10/26/2009 2:01:18 PM) Do none of these banks ever test the quality of their video before they put their lives in their hands?
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (10/26/2009 2:06:18 PM) Bank of the West? One would expect a hold up with a name like that.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/26/2009 2:12:26 PM) GI Joe seems to have the 'Kung Fu grip' also, it's included on all updated versions, see his hand in the photo for more details.
	Report Comment Skits Milloy, Tulsa (10/26/2009 2:18:29 PM) At least the person who printed this article was drunk. I mean, c'mon: "He then showed the showed a gun and told an employee he would shoot her if she did not give him money." What?! It goes to show you that even banks with the protective glass can be robbed. That's usually one of the best deterrants.
	Report Comment SS_Hippy, Tulsa (10/26/2009 2:30:52 PM) first i thought he was a wrestler wearing a mask, wow what a fake beard!
	Report Comment Tony G, Tulsa (10/26/2009 3:54:49 PM) 24 years old, gonna send the next 10 in prison. Hope he comes out smarter than when he went in.
	Report Comment Skits Milloy, Tulsa (10/26/2009 4:37:16 PM) I know you're being facetious, Hardright but all the same...gobble my sack, you moron!
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/26/2009 6:17:23 PM) Brotherly love
	Report Comment Elusive, the burbs (10/26/2009 7:14:44 PM) Not surprised anymore, just wait for those holiday gatherings.
	Report Comment HarleyRyder55, Tulsa (10/26/2009 7:16:52 PM) It's tragic enough for one's life to end so horrifically at the hands of a stranger, but when it's their own brother, it enhances the tragedy tenfold. Prayers and condolences to the family and friends of both men.
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (10/26/2009 7:32:09 PM) And yet the OHP can't seem to get around to releasing the video of Trooper What's His Name's latest fracas.
	Report Comment TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/26/2009 8:20:54 PM) I love online banking!

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