Cherokee Nation Marshal Helps Capture Four Homicide Suspects

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – A Cherokee Nation deputy marshal is being commended for his role in capturing four homicide suspects within a 17 hour period. Casey King's surveillance and intelligence work is part of the 20 member Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force, a collaborative effort among many different agencies to keep citizens in northeast Oklahoma safe.

Cherokee Nation Deputy Marshal King

“Many people have no idea how highly trained and skilled our Cherokee Nation marshals are,”

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said.

“These law enforcement officers protect our tribal communities and our non-Cherokee neighbors. It speaks volumes about the caliber of our officers when we are asked to participate on a regional task force such as this one.”

On September 12, Deputy King was staking out a convenience store, on the lookout for a man wanted in a homicide shooting in Tulsa. After King spotted who he believed to be the suspect, he entered the store and pretended to buy an energy drink to make a positive identification. Deputy King maintained surveillance of the man who then left for an apartment complex nearby. After backup arrived, King and other task force members made the arrest.

Acting on a tip, the task force also arrested two other alleged homicide suspects and provided information to the US marshals in Arkansas, which led to a fourth arrest near Memphis, Tenn.

“My heart was jumping out of my chest,”

“I knew one man was accused of killing someone just three days earlier. After we got him into custody, I was so excited. It's extremely rewarding to know that we were able to get a suspected murderer off the streets.”

In May, King became the first Cherokee Nation marshal cross deputized as a special deputy United States marshal. He is the only Cherokee Nation marshal to serve on the violent crimes task force.

“The preparatory work related to investigating, locating and safely capturing an individual wanted for a shooting is a monumental task in and of itself, let alone attempting to bring four separate shooters to justice at one time,”

Sgt. L. Sherman of the Tulsa Police Department wrote in King's recent commendation letter to the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service.

The Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force started in 1996 to pursue violent offenders and serve warrants within federal land and Cherokee Nation boundaries. It is made up of special deputies from various Oklahoma police departments and law enforcement agencies. King, a former Sand Springs police officer, was familiar with the rural northern portions of the Cherokee Nation. King joined the task force because the group felt it needed a Cherokee Nation marshal able to assist in cases within the tribe’s jurisdiction.

King lives in Pryor with his wife Erin and they have two children. He has served as a Cherokee Nation marshal for one year and joined the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force since being cross deputized in May. The task force is operated by the US Marshal Service for Northern Oklahoma. King is also currently training for the Cherokee Nation Marshal's SWAT team.

posted October 10, 2012 7:30 am edt