OSBI investigates police’s handling of suicide

WEATHERFORD — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the Weatherford Police Department’s handling of a Friday morning suicide.

A police officer fired a bean bag shotgun at a suicidal man who was holding a gun to his head, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported. After being struck by the bean bag, Wyatt Folks, 21, surrounded by officers, fatally shot himself, the bureau reported.

Weatherford police had a report of a suicidal man about 2:30 a.m. at 905 N Bryan. Several officers arrived to talk to Folks, who had a pistol in his hand. Police told OSBI investigators Friday that Folks set the pistol down. But four hours later Folks picked up the pistol again and raised it toward his head. One of the officers then shot Folks with a round from his bean bag shotgun.

Folks’ grandfather, Eldon Folks, 84, of Weatherford, said the incident happened at his home where Wyatt lived. Eldon Folks said he was outside the house for four hours while police negotiated with his grandson and he does not think the police officer did anything wrong.

“The police were there for four hours trying to talk him out of it. They thought they had talked him out of it,” Eldon Folks said. “I have no complaint about what they did.”

Eldon Folks said his grandson worked as a cook at his restaurant, Mark Restaurant, and had not shown suicidal signs before Friday. He said his family is devastated.

“We’re having a pretty hard time right now,” Eldon Folks said.

OSBI reports in a news release that bean bag rounds are intended to stun a person. But Folks was not stunned and he shot himself in the head. Folks was dead at the scene.

The Weatherford Police Department requested OSBI investigate the use of force and the suicide, OSBI reports.