Robin Howard's Family Calls For OSBI Investigation Of OCPD Officer

Robin Howard died following an altercation with Oklahoma City police in the summer of 2012. Now, Howard's family is calling for an OSBI investigation into one of the officers involved.

Tuesday, March 25th 2014, 9:49 pm

By: News 9

Robin Howard's Family Calls For OSBI Investigation Of OCPD Officer

Robin Howard died following an altercation with Oklahoma City police in the summer of 2012. Now, Howard's family is calling for an OSBI investigation into one of the officers involved.

In June 2012, Howard led police on a chase. Officers said he resisted arrest, so they used force to get him under control. Howard was taken to a hospital where he later died. In August 2012, the medical examiner ruled Howard's death a homicide. The cause of death was acute pneumonia due to blunt force trauma.

Over the weekend, four officers, including one involved in the Robin Howard incident, shot and killed a northwest Oklahoma City man who they say pointed a gun at them.

In Robin Howard's case, all of the officers involved have been cleared of any wrongdoing, and the District Attorney declined to file charges.

"We just feel like his life was just snatched away," said Kimberly Turner, Howard's sister. "He didn't do anything that warranted death. So, it is important to us and that's why we'll keep fighting."

The Howard family and their lawyer sent a letter Tuesday to Police Chief Bill Citty.

The following is a passage from that letter:

There are three (3) separate incidents in which someone has either been injured or killed while Sgt. Coffee was placing them into police custody. The family would request that an outside investigation be conducted, or in addition to an investigation that Internal Affairs might conduct. Regretfully, the Howard family believes that Internal Affairs investigations are merely rubber stamps. Therefore, they would request that you seek an investigation from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.