Police Say Metro Businessman Tried to Bribe Them

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Charles Corey Gaines, an Oklahoma homebuilder, is accused of using his financial power to pay his way out of an arrest.

The 37-year-old was about to be arrested on drug charges, when police say he tried to bribe them.

According to police, tried bribing them with money to prevent him from having to go to jail, something his attorney says never happened.

It happened in hotel room 303 at a Ramada INN in SW Oklahoma City. Police say they were in the middle of arresting two suspects for selling drugs when they met Gaines.

"As officers begin to talk to him and search him, they found a syringe in one of his pockets and drugs that tested positive for methamphetamines," said Master Sergeant Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

According to the police report, Gaines tried bribing one of the officers.

The police report documented Gaines statement:

"You know, I own a large company and I would be glad to make a donation to whoever or even to the police department, because you are the only one that seen what you took out of my pocket."

Gaines' attorney claims his client, who runs GCF Homes, a company known for selling hundred thousand dollars homes and up, said the officers got it wrong.

Gaines attorney released the following state on behalf of Gaines:

"My client emphatically denies that he offered a bribe to a police officer...Mr. Gaines did tell the officer that he was a supporter of law enforcement and that he has donated to law enforcement in the past, as well as used his business to perform community service and build homes for low-income families."

Oklahoma City Police said their officers haven't waivered since taking their report.

"The officers believe that the individual intentions were very clear that he was offering to make a monetary payment to the officer or whoever the officer wanted in order to secure his freedom and that just simply isn't going to happen," Knight said.

Gaines' attorney said since his client's arrest, he is receiving help for his drug addiction and that his client assures his customers that none of his business obligations are affected by his recent arrest.

According to the police report, Gaines was charged with a felony back in 2004 for manufacturing drugs and for the possession of drug paraphernalia.