By John Dobberstein, Editor
Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said Friday he “categorically” denies any allegations of misconduct leveled by a citizen’s group that is seeking a grand jury investigation of the sheriff and county’s top prosecutor.
Wagoner County Citizens Against Corruption filed a petition requesting a grand jury to be empaneled to investigate alleged misconduct by Elliott and Wagoner County District Attorney Jack Thorp, and to have them removed from office.
“As the elected sheriff, I respect the public’s right to seek transparency and oversight,” Elliott said in a statement, “but I categorically deny any allegations of mismanagement or misconduct.
“My office remains committed to the county jail’s safe, lawful and professional operation. As sheriff, I have consistently sought funds for better facilities, training and oversight of the jail operations to improve the services this office provides to the community.”
Elliott said the sheriff’s department will cooperate with “any lawful investigation,” but he added that a “thorough and objective review of the facts” would confirm the department’s practices are in accordance with its responsibilities to the community as jail administrators and law enforcement officers.”
Elliott asked the public to “avoid speculation and understand that several of the allegations are simply false. The petition is one-sided and an incomplete account of each incident alleged.”
The 14-page petition alleges “criminal” acts by the Sheriff’s Department in the deaths of county jail inmate Angela Liggans and motorist Jeffrey Krueger. The petition also requests a grand jury investigate “an assault and battery committed by the Sheriff Chris Elliott against a Wagoner County jail inmate,” and a “failure” by Thorp to prosecute the incident.
WCCAC also requested a probe into “the attempted concealment of evidence” by Elliott of a Wagoner County Commission investigation into the county’s 911 director.
Wagoner County District Judge Michael Hogan approved the grand jury petition, and WCCAC now has 45 days to collect at least 4,300 valid signatures, and WCCAC is targeting at least 6,000. The group is seeing the removal of Thorp and Elliott from their positions.
Thorp also denied the claims made in the filing in a statement released Thursday. “Not only are they insufficient to advise the public of the truth, but in many cases are legally incorrect and certainly they do not define the actual legal requirements,” he said.
Thorp added that “should it be necessary, I will ultimately present proof of political and evil motive in presenting these allegations (against myself), and will ultimately seek any potential remedy.
“I fully intend to fight these allegations with every ounce of my ability, and the truth will prevail,” Thorp says.
John Dilliner says
Elliott is a pathological liar. One example is back when his spokesman told the media there wasn’t any kind of quota, or pressure on Deputies to write Okay municipal traffic tickets. One of his employees grew weary of the lies and sent the media the emails that prove just how dishonest the man is