Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation   Stan Florence  Director   Jessica Brown Public Information Director

06/27/12                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Agents Investigate Police-Involved Shooting in Clinton

The Clinton Police Chief requested agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation work a police-involved shooting that took place outside the Clinton Police Department just after midnight.

Prior to the shooting, family members of Benjamin Whiteshield (d.o.b. 10/18/1977) drove Whiteshield to the Clinton Police Department because Whiteshield was acting delusional. They had already attempted to take him to a nearby hospital. At the police department, Whiteshield left his relatives’ vehicle armed with a large crescent wrench. With information from Whiteshield’s relatives about his mental state, officers searched the area for Whiteshield. During that search, Whiteshield confronted an officer with wrench in hand on the north side of the police department. The officer fired his weapon one time, striking Whiteshield in the mouth. Whiteshield then ran inside the lobby of the police department. Officers tried several times to subdue Whiteshield to allow emergency medical technicians to apply treatment. After several attempts, officers and EMTs were able to subdue Whiteshield and load him into an ambulance. Whiteshield was pronounced dead at the hospital in Clinton.

The officer who fired his weapon is on routine paid administrative leave while the OSBI investigates the shooting. Once the investigation is complete, agents will give the report to the district attorney. The district attorney will determine if the shooting was justified.

Whiteshield’s last known address was in Thomas.

The medical examiner’s office will perform an autopsy, which will include toxicology tests.

Jessica Brown
OSBI PIO