Formal incident report filed against commissioner
A formal incident report has been filed against Oklahoma County Commissioner Kevin Calvey for allegedly pushing a member of the public at a recent meeting.
Them an who filed the report, local business owner Chad Whitehead, previously told The Oklahoman that Calvey pushed him to keep him from entering a public meeting room where members of the press were going to interview Calvey.
Calvey's name was redacted from the report provided to members of the media Wednesday because he has not been formally charged, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
Whitehead attended the Aug. 19 county commissioners meeting to speak out against the county's planned use for i ts federal COVID- 19 relief dollars.
After the meeting ended, White head attempted to follow a group of journalists into the public meeting room where Calvey would provide an interview.
Calvey“remained at the door, and two in di vi duals ... attempted to enter the meeting room with the other members of the press,” reads the report, which includes comments f rom a sheriff's deputy who witnessed t he incident.
“I observed( Calvey) reach out with his right hand, make contact with Chad White head' s chest, and appeared to push him backward.”
From inside the room, the doors were promptly locked.
The incident was captured on vi deo by Tyreke Baker, founder of The Black Times news organization, who was also denied entrance to the public meeting room.
Whitehead previously told The Oklahoman he wanted to attend the meeting to hear the media's questions.
Whitehead said he believes it is unacceptable for a public official to physically restrain a community member.
In a prior statement, Calvey previously said the incident was“fabricated out rage” and that it was his intent for “anyone from the credentialed media” to be allowed in the meeting.
The incident was classified as pending as of Wednesday.
It will be up to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office to decide whether to file charges.