Author: Fiona Samson

Tulsa, OK – The City of Tulsa has officially launched major revitalization projects at Chamberlain Park and Berry Park, marking the start of construction aimed at expanding recreational spaces in North Tulsa. City officials, including Mayor Monroe Nichols, District 1 Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper, and Parks Director Anna America, joined representatives from Crossland Construction, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and local residents for a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Jane A. Malone Center in Chamberlain Park. According to the city, Chamberlain Park will undergo a 15-acre renovation featuring a new basketball pavilion, playground, community garden, picnic shelters, and nearly one mile of…

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Fire Department in Oklahoma responded to an apartment fire near East 71st Street and South Yale Avenue after crews were dispatched just after 6:30 earlier in the day. According to the department, firefighters from Station 28 and other responding units arrived quickly and were able to contain the fire to a single apartment unit. Officials said the fire began while residents were cooking with oil, when the pan ignited and quickly got out of control. All occupants inside the apartment complex were able to evacuate safely, and no injuries were reported. Fire crews noted that…

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Police Department has recognized Detective Aubrey Williams as the 2026 Police Officer of the Year, an honor presented by the Rotary Club of Tulsa during the Above and Beyond Awards Ceremony. Officials said Williams received the award for her work with the department’s Sexual Predator Investigation and Digital Evidence Recovery Unit (SPIDER), where she has spent the past two years investigating individuals who exploit children online. According to the department, Williams has served with the Tulsa Police Department for six years and later became the handler for an electronic device detection K-9. Through extensive training…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Officers responded on May 3, 2026, at approximately 7 p.m. to a reported shooting at a residence near 27th Street and 103rd East Avenue, according to officials. Upon arrival, officers found multiple witnesses detaining 21-year-old Darwin Vasquez-Barrios and took him into custody without incident. Authorities said the victim was located in the backyard of the home with a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators with the Tulsa Police Department’s Homicide Unit are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Vasquez-Barrios was arrested and booked into the Tulsa…

Tulsa, OK – Officers with the Tulsa Police Department K-9 Unit took part in the “Rock & Rescue” adoption event held over the weekend at Expo Square, highlighting the role of police service dogs and connecting with the community. According to the department, Officers Anderson and Kite represented the K-9 Unit during the event, where they spoke with attendees and participated in a question-and-answer session. The officers discussed how K-9 partners are selected, their training process, and differences between their work roles and home life. The event also included a demonstration featuring K-9 Nico, showcasing the capabilities of the department’s…

Tulsa, OK – Officers, city leaders, families, and community members gathered over the weekend for the 29th annual Tulsa Police Memorial service and candlelight vigil honoring fallen officers. The annual event recognizes the 41 Tulsa Police Department officers who have died in the line of duty. Officials said the service is held each year to remember their sacrifice and support surviving families and colleagues. During the ceremony, Tulsa Police Chief Larsen, Mayor Monroe Nichols, and Public Safety Commissioner Laurel Roberts were among those who spoke, reflecting on the legacy and service of the department’s fallen officers. State Rep. Ross Ford…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred April 23 at a road construction site along Highway 75. According to authorities, first responders were called around 1 p.m. to the 5200 block of South Highway 75 after a 22-year-old man was struck by a backing dump truck. Officials said the man was part of a construction crew working in the area. He was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries. Police noted that some of the man’s family members were also working on the crew and were nearby at the time of the…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Department officers arrested a woman following an incident in which a man was struck by a vehicle at an apartment complex on April 23. According to police, officers responded around 6 p.m. to Bradford Apartments near 32nd Street North and North Garrison Avenue after reports of a person being hit by a car. Investigators said 22-year-old Iyonna Alexander struck the victim with her vehicle and left the scene. Officers later determined that Alexander had been involved in a dispute with a romantic partner and had been asked to leave the residence along with the victim.…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police Department officers responded April 26 to a report of a stabbing near a QuikTrip location at 51st and Peoria. According to police, officers arrived around 5:45 a.m. and found 27-year-old Tramell Lyons lying in the intersection with a stab wound to his stomach. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Investigators said the woman involved in the incident met officers inside the QuikTrip and reported she had recently met Lyons, who had been pursuing a relationship with her. She stated she declined his advances and was blocked from entering the store. The…

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Fire Department is hosting a four-week Technical Rescue Academy that brings together 27 firefighters from across the region to strengthen advanced rescue skills. Participants include firefighters from the Tulsa Fire Department, Oklahoma City Fire Department, Jenks Fire Department, Oak Cliff Fire Department, and Verdigris Fire District, many of whom also serve with Oklahoma Task Force One. The academy focuses on preparing responders for complex and high-risk incidents such as trench rescues, confined space emergencies, and structural collapses. During the first week, crews concentrated on trench rescue operations, a highly technical and time-sensitive discipline. Officials said…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa police are asking for the public’s help to identify a woman suspected of stealing a package containing medication from a residence near 71st Street and Memorial. According to the Tulsa Police Department, the incident occurred on January 20, 2026, when a resident was expecting a delivery of medications. While the package was delivered to the home, it was allegedly taken from the porch before the victim could retrieve it. Investigators say a woman walked onto the porch, took the package, and left the area. Police have released an image of the suspect and are asking anyone…

Tulsa, OK – Members of the Tulsa Fire Department participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade on Monday, joining the community in honoring Dr. King’s legacy of service, courage, and unity. Fire officials said the event served as a reminder of the values Dr. King championed, including compassion, respect, and a commitment to serving others. Those principles, the department noted, continue to guide firefighters in their daily work. The department expressed pride in standing alongside the community for a day of remembrance and reflection, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire service and unity.

Tulsa, OK – The City of Tulsa is preparing for an extended period of extreme cold and a winter storm expected to begin late Thursday night and last through the weekend, creating potentially dangerous conditions across the area. Forecasts indicate temperatures may remain below freezing for more than 80 consecutive hours, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. A winter storm system is also expected to bring snow from Friday through early Sunday, which could lead to hazardous travel conditions. City Public Works crews are preparing for 24-hour winter operations, including roadway treatment and snow removal on main roads, bridges,…

Tulsa, OK – Lonnie Craig Fox, a repeat arson offender, was sentenced to 14 years in prison following his 2025 arrest for multiple arson incidents in downtown Tulsa. Tulsa Fire Department Arson Investigators, with assistance from the Tulsa Police Department and TFD Engine 4, linked Fox to a car fire near 200 S. Boulder and a fire at First Presbyterian Church on August 6, 2025. Surveillance footage and thorough investigative work led to his swift arrest and successful prosecution. Fox had previously been convicted of setting multiple fires inside LaFortune Tower apartments in 2016. TFD noted that arson investigators often…

Tulsa, OK – On October 28, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Tulsa Police officers responded to a call at the QT near Pine and Peoria regarding a 13-year-old who reported being followed by a man in a car. Officers initially could not locate the teen until they spotted him on the roof of the QT. The boy had climbed a ladder on the side of the building and jumped onto the awning. Two officers followed his path to the awning to speak with him and assess the situation. During the conversation, the boy made statements about self-harm. Officers worked to…

Tulsa, OK – On Sunday, officers from the Tulsa Police Gilcrease Division attended a fall festival at Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church. Despite the cool, cloudy weather, dozens of families came out to visit with officers, enjoy games, collect candy, and receive Halloween-themed balloon animals. Officers enjoyed seeing the creative costumes and thanked Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church for hosting the event, as well as everyone who attended to show their support.

Tulsa, OK – On October 26, 2025, around 8:00 a.m., officers responded to a hospital near 61st and Yale after reports of a man assaulting two medical workers. Hospital staff reported that Damon Gunn, who was intoxicated and seeking treatment for a cut above his eye, became aggressive. During the incident, Gunn punched a security officer and bit a nurse who was attempting to care for his injuries. Gunn received medical treatment and was then booked into the Tulsa County Jail on two counts of assault and battery on a medical technician or care provider. Authorities noted that this is…

Tulsa, OK – On Tuesday, Tulsa Police Officer Derek Sullins was awarded a Medal of Honor by Atoka County Sheriff Kody Simpson and received commendations and challenge coins from the Stringtown Police and Atoka Police. Officer Sullins was recognized for his act of bravery on May 30, 2025. On that day, officers from the Atoka Police Department responded to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart. After stopping the suspect vehicle, the driver sped off onto Highway 69. While fleeing, the suspects struck an Atoka County Sheriff’s unit and two civilian vehicles before crashing near Stringtown, Oklahoma. One of the…

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police say a driver was caught traveling 113 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone early Tuesday morning on northbound Highway 169 near 5000 North. According to officers, the vehicle—a Nissan Z—was pulled over by a Traffic Division officer after being clocked at nearly double the posted speed limit. The driver claimed he had been going the speed limit but accelerated in an attempt to get away from another vehicle following closely behind. While officers acknowledged the explanation might make sense on a closed race track, they emphasized that it does not justify excessive speeding…

Tulsa, OK – A 19-year-old man accused in a deadly February shooting in Tulsa is now in custody at the Tulsa County Jail after being extradited from Mexico. Tulsa Police confirmed that Angel Ibarra was returned to Oklahoma and booked into jail to face multiple charges stemming from a February 8, 2025, shooting that killed two teenagers and injured two others. Ibarra is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 18-year-olds Arturo Degollado and Jett Brummett. The shooting took place at an apartment complex in east Tulsa. Two additional victims, ages 18 and 19, were also…