Monday, January 30th 2023, 10:46 pm
A lawsuit forces the release of a disturbing video taken the night a Pottawatomie County inmate lost consciousness while restrained by jailers.
Ronnie Given’s death was ruled a homicide, according to the Medical Examiner. He was suffering mental instability when jailers restrained him, causing his organs to shut down. But despite those findings, charges were never filed. Given's friends and family want to know why.
For the past four years, jail officials have fought to keep this disturbing video private, until now.
A judge ruled last month in favor of The Frontier, a publication that filed suit in 2021 calling for the video's release.
In 2020, Given's family filed a civil suit. The District Attorney at the time told News 9, after OSBI investigated for months, the agency found Given's death to be justified.
Given's friends are hoping this video sparks change for the man they called "Happy".
With a new District Attorney in office, there could be a new ruling in Given’s death. However, when News 9 reached out, they did not respond.
A proud Okie from Lawton, Sylvia Corkill joined the News 9 team in 2016. She anchors the weekend evening newscasts and reports on weekdays. During her career, Sylvia developed a passion for investigative reporting, particularly in the areas of crime and law enforcement. She has covered major trials and drug busts, and she once participated in a national manhunt investigation.
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