OKC Police officers have contact with HIV

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two Oklahoma City police officers recently had contact with the blood of a suspect who is HIV positive.

It's a scary situation that's not over yet.

The two officers came to the aid of employees at the Gordmans store on west Memorial Road who were trying to restrain a suspected shoplifter. The fracas moved from the store to the parking lot.

"When the officers tried to detain him and get him into custody, he continued to struggle with them, at one point trying to kick one of the officers and apparently got quite a bit of blood, not only on the officers, but also some of the employees," OKC Police Department Sgt. Paco Balderrama said.

After he was subdued, the suspect, 18-year-old Marquis Antwon Tubbs, shouted out, ‘I've got AIDS, and I'm going to give it to everybody'." A hospital test showed that Tubbs was HIV-positive.

Years ago Warr Acres officer Hugh Osborn was stuck with a needle by a suspect who claimed--falsely--to be HIV-positive.

"I had to go through quite a few tests and quite a few sleepless nights after that, worrying about that," Warr Acres Police Department Lt. Hugh Osborn said.

The Oklahoma City officers are also going through a series of tests.

"The officers are being treated, taking medication, just to make sure, and follow-up tests are done on the officers," Balderrama said. "But, obviously a very stressful and scary situation for them."

Tubbs was booked into jail for engaging in conduct likely to transfer HIV.