Transcript: The Community Focus Update (12/19/20)

The Community Focus Update Date: December 19th, 2020

This program was recorded live then later premiered. Note: This is a working document information may change. Missing numbers means stories were dropped. (FSG)

Covid-19 Disclaimer (PPT Video/Chroma Key)

-:60 Opener/Lower third (Mike) (One shot) (Zoom in) Mike: Welcome to our 38th episode of the Community Focus Update. I’m Michael Woodruff. Covid-19, quarantinies, fortunate.

(One shot) Mike: In this week’s program we learn about a local organization that is helping santa spread holiday cheer, area Christmas events, and later we’ll discuss the the outcome of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigation regarding a recent state audit of the Ottawa County Sheriff's department. Before we get into the news, let’s talk about our sponsors. -Graphic -Elegance Unleashed Mike: Elegance Unleashed; Owner Deb Swank offers a full service salon for you and your family. They offer a wide variety of services from haircuts to pedicures. Due to easing of state and local Covid-19 rules Elegance Unleashed, will be taking one-on-one appointments. Children and the disabled can be accompanied by one adult. As a safety caution all clients are asked to wear surgical masks. If you don’t have a mask one will be provided. Deb wants to thank everyone for their past patronage and looks forward to serving returning and new customers. For an appointment call 918-544-6976.

-Graphic

Mike: Do you or a loved one need home care? Then give Caring Hands Home Services a call at 417-825-5600. Caring Hands Home Services offers covid-19 compliant care in your home with light cooking and cleaning. With stay at home orders issued by state and local governments, Caring Hands Home Services is an essential business and offers grocery pickup from your favorite store! Caring Hands Home Services serves Ottawa County and the Joplin Metro area. -Pewitt Law Graphic Mike: Since 1992, Douglas Pewitt has been serving the public as an attoney. If you have questions about Family law to include divorce and child custody, auto or personal injury, or found yourself on the other side of the law. Call Pewitt Law Offices at 918-542-8400. -Ron Enderland Art Graphic Mike: Christmas is right around the corner and Ron Enderland Art is making it easy for you to find that special gift. In addition to his pen drawings of famous people and places, For the third year. Ron is selling his Miami historic calendar. This calendar is printed right in Miami, Oklahoma and features heavy paper, spiral binding. Each month features a location from Miami past and is suitable for framing when the year is over. To order visit Enderland.com

Mike: If you’d like to advertise or be a sponsor of The Community Focus Update it’s only $10 an episode during the covid-19 pandemic. Email me at Michael Woodruff Media Management dot com with the Word “advertising” in the subject line. #1(One shot/Video) (Commerce Christmas tree)

Mike: The City of Commerce has their christmas tree displayed at city hall. The tree was decorated with decorations created by students, teachers, and administrtors at Alexander Elementary.

-Video

#2(One shot/Video) (Quapaw City hall Closed to public) Mike: On effective Wednesday December 16th the town of Quapaw, City Hall will be closed to the public due to Covid-19 concerns. If you have any questions or need assistance please call 918-674-2525

#3 (one shot/graphic) (Twin Bridges Christmas Lights)

Mike: Looking for a little Christmas cheer why not visit twin bridges state park. Each night from 6 to 9 enjoy a nice drive through twinkling lights and wile you listen to the sounds of the holiday season. When the experience is over please leave a donation. Again, Visitors to Twin Bridge State park can enjoy the lights evey evening until decemebr 31st.

#4 (One shot/Graphic)

(Ottawa County Santa Project) Mike: With over 7 point 8 billion people in the world, Santa is finding it harder and harder to deliver gifts. In ottawa County Saint Nick has a little help local organizer Corri Stotts explains.

-Lower Third: Corri Stotts, Ottawa County Santa Project

#5 (one shot photo) (Sheriff Floyd Indicted)

Mike: Since our first episode back in February we’ve been following the ongoing issues at the Ottawa County Jail. Among these problems have been an aging building, broken down vehicles, troubled inmates who destroy things, budget shortfalls, fund mismanagement, and one thing that could have been easily avoided… the misuse of a county credit card by Ottawa County Sheriff Jeremy Floyd during a business trip to Reno, Nevada for a yearly Sheriffs Convention. Prior to the release of a special audit on June 16th of this year. I had an opportunity for an impromptu interview with Sheriff Floyd about the allegations. Here’s the full unedited interview.

-Upper Third: Interview Conducted on June 1, 2020

Sadly. There is more to the narrative than just going on the cheap with a food allowance and changing rooms because it smelled like cigarettes'. While the state auditor was able to confirm Sheriff Floyd and his spouse attended a conference of the Western States Sheriff’s Association in Reno, Nevada, from March 4, 2018 through March 9, 2018. They found taxpayers footed a trip that wasn’t approved by any member of the Ottawa County Board of County Commissioners.

-Photos of receipts etc.

Of the $3,062.65 paid for the trip, $1,132.78 was spent in violation of law. These improper charges for the Sheriff, totaled $234.70, consisted of hotel room upgrades and airfare upgrades. Improper charges benefitting the Sheriff’s spouse, totaling $898.08, consisted of airfare, airfare upgrades, conference registration fees, and meals.

-Camera

To the average person, the solution to this issue of misusing a credit card would be simple. The sheriff just has to reimburse the county and that's what the sheriff offered during his interview with the auditor. State law however doesn't allow for "mea culpas". Travel costs of the Sheriff’s spouse, along with hotel and airline upgrades incurred by the Sheriff were an improper use of public funds violated Article 10 § 11 of the Oklahoma Constitution

-Graphic

which prohibits the receiving of perquisites by a county officer, stating in relevant part: The receiving, directly or indirectly, by any officer of…any county…of any interest, profit, or perquisites, arising from the use or loan of public funds in his hands, or moneys to be raised through his agency for…county purposes shall be deemed a felony. Said offense shall be punished as may be prescribed by law, a part of which punishment shall be disqualification to hold office.

-Camera Mike: Sheriff Floyd’s problems then got worse. Due to an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation based on the findings of the state auditor it was determined Sheriff Floyd lied. While we don’t know the full extent of these lies. The Oklahoman reported a Grand Jury in Oklahoma city indicted Sherriff Floyd on Thursday December 17th with the charge of embezzlement for misusing a county credit card and lying about his criminal history on his 2020 declaration of Candidacy form filled for re-election. In documents obtained by Woodruff Media Management from the Ottawa County Election board we discovered the 2020 declaration was different than the previous 2016 declaration. In the 2016 form the criminal history focuses on the applicant being found guilty of embezzlement while the 2020 document also asks if you have ever been named in an embezzlement case.

-Graphic

In the 2016 document Sheriff Floyd would have been honest but the 2020 document would be a lie due to a 2008 incident while Sheriff Floyd was Police chief in Vian, Oklahoma.

-Camera

According to an April 2nd, 2008 article in the Miami News Record Sheriff Floyd was arrested for two counts of embezzlement of cash that was supposed to be turned in for evidence. Additionally Floyd was charged with grand larceny for the on-duty theft of a Club Cadet four wheel drive vehicle from a local hardware store. During that time Floyd was also questioned about the misuse of a police department gas card with charges totaling $1,353.25. Upon learning of this fact we further researched and didn't find the outcome of this incident. Regardless of guilty or innocence, the situation should have been documented in the 2020 declaration for candidacy.

So where does this story take us? Yesterday morning, A warrant was signed by Judge Jennifer McCaffery in Ottawa county with a bond amount set at $50,000.

Miami Officers went to Mr. Floyds home and served the warrant. Floyd surrendered without incident. Floyd was then transported to Miami PD for processing, then to OCSO for booking.

Source:

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Summary https://www.sai.ok.gov/docs/press/Ottawa%20County%20Sheriff%20Executive%20Summary.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3hZnoy8PIF0VFcdR-6xsitNxyRTUzOdDMuONadDZSQJDcqtRdfqblY_CE Oklahoma Reports on Floyd Grand Jury https://oklahoman.com/article/5678537/gov-kevin-stitts-secretary-of-digital-transformation-indicted

Update (10/16/21): The Miami News Record article link is dead here is another source: https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3222574/vian-ex-chief-faces-claims-of-thievery

Mike: Coming up after the break, we’ll discuss more about Sheriff Floyd’s Indictment Trivia: Watch video for trivia

Commercial Break (Unity of Joplin :30, Paid)

(One Shot/Graphic) #6 (Zoom interview) Synopsis: A former lawyer discusses with Michael Woodruff the indictment process.

Lower Third: Martin Lively, Former Lawyer

Mike: After the break, Here’s a piece of trivia you may not know. Trivia: Watch video for trivia

Comercial Break (Osborn drug 1:30, Paid) (One Shot/Video) #9(The story we wished we could have reported on) Mike: Welcome back everyone. Today's program was really hard to produce. As a local broadcaster I hear and see things all the time. Contrary to what many may think, folks in news reporting hate doing stories on people who break the law. In fact as I was putting today's reporting together I had to verify some facts with reporters who have been following Mr. Floyd for a long time. Sadly this is the tip of the iceberg the possible upcoming trial may bring more things to light. The misuse of the credit card was initially hearsay, I stayed away from it until the audit. Before we leave I'd like to share with you raw footage from the other story, I was working on. It's a story about how a sheriff from a small northeastern county in Oklahoma who grew up with struggles, made mistakes, then found his niche in serving the community and fixed some problems that had been plaguing a sheriffs department for many years. This video was shot the same day as the interview we already featured.

-Raw video

Mike: Undersheriff Danny cook will be the interim sheriff until the newly elected Sheriff David Dean is sworn in on Tuesday January 5th. We'll be there with our video camera.

Mike: Well that’s it for this week’s program. Be sure to like and share this video and become our friend on Facebook. Thanks again for watching. We’ll see you next week! (Copyright/fade out)