Oklahoma County Jail targets violence problem

Prosecutors say former Oklahoma County jail guard Brian Anthony Arrington went into a cell on the jail’s 13th floor with an expandable baton he wasn’t supposed to have and, on Oct. 20, used it to beat a 16-year-old inmate.

Arrington, 36, was fired and now faces a felony charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He is among seven county jail guards fired and charged in relation to alleged actions in the past 14 months.

The allegations came to light after The Oklahoman reviewed court records following comments last week by Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater that a crackdown on guards has improved conditions at the jail. The U.S. Justice Department earlier had slammed the lockup for a culture of violence, among other problems.

Last week, Sheriff John Whetsel displayed changes made at the jail since the 2008 report, including everything from a new medical waiting area to improved paint schemes. Federal officials came to the county for a follow-up visit last month.

Whetsel and Prater said some of the changes that most impressed officials were those meant to curb violence, both between inmates and as a result of excessive force by guards.

Jail officials have updated how they train guards in use of force and changed procedures for reviewing incidents, Whetsel said.

Prater said Whetsel has taken the lead in policing his own, conducting investigations quickly and turning over the information to prosecutors when charges are warranted. Prater said ignoring incidents would escalate violence by both inmates and guards.

"That sends a clear message to the inmates that the DA doesn’t care and we have to take care of ourselves, so it’s a more violent environment, and the staff is going to say we’re never going to get charged so let’s go ahead and take the guy out,” Prater said.

Arrington’s case is one of four assault cases pending against Oklahoma County jail guards. Arrington’s attorney, Tom Kite, would not comment on specifics of the case but said many jail guards are subject to post traumatic stress disorder.

"People who work as detention officers are subject to the same stresses in a different manner than people like myself who are combat veterans,” he said. "It’s just there and it needs to be addressed. It needs to be recognized.”

According to court records, an internal sheriff’s investigation found Arrington hit Emanuel Josh Nichols, 16, in the right outer thigh at least once with an unauthorized expandable baton, causing swelling and bruising.

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