Pond Creek Police Chief Tim Barwick is recovering from surgery to improve lost circulation in his leg after being shot Sunday morning, according to a police department spokesman.
Barwick currently is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, according to the Grant County Sheriff's office and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Barwick is in a medically induced coma, a police spokesman said. The 56-year-old police chief was transported to OKC via helicopter from St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Enid.
Barwick was wounded seriously Sunday morning in a law enforcement encounter with a McAlester man that turned deadly.
At about 6 a.m. Sunday, the homeowners at 18533 U.S. 81 in Pond Creek called police about a man trying to get inside their home. Barwick, a Grant County deputy and two Medford police officers arrived on the scene and began speaking with man.
Clifford Butler Jr., 67, of McAlester, reportedly was acting erratically, claiming people were in the bushes trying to hurt him, according to OSBI
When officers attempted to subdue him, he pulled a gun from behind him and shot the Pond Creek police chief at least one time in the abdomen, according to OSBI. The Grant County deputy returned gunfire, killing Butler.
By mid-afternoon Sunday, Grant County Sheriff's Office indicated Barwick was out of surgery in the St. Mary's intensive care unit, with plans to transport him to OKC when he was stable.
Grant County Sheriff's Office requested OSBI assistance with the investigation. Agents collected information from witnesses and evidence from the scene.
A comprehensive report will be given to the Grant County District Attorney Mike Fields, who will determine if the shooting was justified.
OSBI will not release the name of the deputy who killed Butler unless he is arrested or charged with a crime.
Sunday's officer-involved shooting raises the number of fatal shootings in the state this year to 25. Last year, Oklahoma officers were involved in 23 fatal shootings. Looking at the number of shootings on a monthly basis, April surpassed all other months this year with nine fatal shootings. The second highest month was July with four fatal shootings. In 2010, Oklahoma officers were involved in 10 fatality shootings, 13 in 2011, 17 in 2012, 15 in 2013, 23 in 2014 and 25 so far in 2015. OSBI has been requested to investigate 12 of this year's 25.
Copyright 2015 - Enid News & Eagle, Okla.
Tribune News Service
