Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is facing backlash after reports indicate that his son may have been given special treatment when approached by the police. According to KFOR, the governor’s son was found in possession of alcohol and at least four guns on the night of Halloween when a call was made regarding a box of guns being found in a parking lot near a haunted house.
Body camera footage released Monday indicates how the scene played out with a Logan County Sheriff’s deputy clearly upset and Stitt’s son, John Andrew Stitt, announcing who he was. While the sheriff’s office noted that no special treatment was given, the fact young Stitt wasn’t arrested and the case was handed over has become problematic.
“Can I be honest, my dad’s the governor,” Stitt’s son, who goes by Drew, can be heard saying in the footage.
“I don’t care,” the deputy responded. The deputy is clearly concerned of the guns being in possession of the 20-year-old.
“This is not OK,” said the deputy. “You know what safety concerns I have right now?”
According to the incident report, the deputy noted that Stitt smelled like alcohol, and several empty cans of booze were also found in his truck.
The guns included two rifles and two pistols, one of the pistols belonged to the governor. The box they were in also included several magazines and ammunition.
The report noted that one of Stitt’s friends was allowed to drive the truck back to their home because they did not appear intoxicated.
While Stitt was not taken into custody, a potential “minor in possession” charge was filed by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
However, Laura Thomas, Logan County district Attorney, later sent the young Stitt last week offering him to participate in a deferred prosecution program. The program would include community service and possible rehab treatments, KFOR reported.
If he completes the program, he will not be charged.
“We have what’s called a deferred prosecution program in both Stillwater and in Guthrie where we offer people on certain offenses — of which minor in possession is one — who have absolutely no priors the ability to enter into the deferred prosecution and community service and whatever my executive director of rehab services thinks is appropriate for that person,” Thomas said. “If they complete the deferred prosecution, then charges would not be filed.”
Despite the backlash online that Stitt was given special treatment, Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux told The Oklahoman that he believes no special treatment had been provided to Drew Stitt or his friends.
“People are talking about this being swept under the rug, but we did a fully detailed report that day and submitted an affidavit to the district attorney’s office for charges,” Devereaux told The Oklahoman. “Why they haven’t filed anything is beyond me.”
