A row of television cameras stood in front of District 22 District Attorney Erik Johnson as he hosted a press conference offering an update on the law enforcement response to the violence in Wewoka.

Joining the District Attorney were Seminole County Sheriff Anthony Louis, Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Chief Chris Coker, and Wewoka Chief of Police Keith Barkhimer, who Johnson explained head the three law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction in Wewoka, and have been instrumental over the past several days in assisting the federal agencies and the District 22 Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force that have been involved in the ongoing investigation and the six arrests (so far) that were announced during the press conference.

DA Johnson, aware of complaints about a perceived lack of transparency, explained that there are some questions he can’t answer at this time because they have a continuing investigation going on and he doesn’t want to risk either the prosecution of those cases or the operational safety of the officers involved with boots on the ground in the investigation.

Although he repeatedly explained why he couldn’t reveal some details, Johnson stressed he wanted the Wewoka com- munity to understand that they have been extremely vigilant on these issues and had over a dozen U.S. Marshalls from the Fugitive Apprehension Task Force in Muskogee assisting in the investigation, as well as continuing assistance from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Division and their agents.

“It’s important for my office and for these individuals to have the community know that this is a saturated, joint law enforcement response from all levels of law enforcement – federal, state, local, and tribal,” Johnson stated. “I anticipate multiple arrests to be effected by these agencies over the next several weeks.”

Johnson next read from a prepared statement explaining that they wished to provide as much information as possible with the understanding they cannot discuss certain facts in order to protect operational security. The departments involved are not large and do not have Public Information Officers or communications departments. Instead, every officer has been actively investigating and working to reduce the threat to the Wewoka community.

The investigation has so far resulted in the arrest of six individuals over the past few days. Those arrested were Mandel Carolina, Timothy Camp, Cortez Camp, Jerod Ridennour, Johnthon Hodge, and Brian Huntley.

In addition to these arrests, four handguns were seized. The DA added that he anticipates additional arrests being made in the coming weeks, and U.S. Attorney Chris Wilson has communicated he will join the District 22 DA in prosecuting all individuals responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

Johnson explained that saturated law enforcement patrols began following the non-injury shooting at Family Dollar store on October 26, with the jurisdictional agencies joined by Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Inspector General’s Division, which he says was extremely helpful with the technology they provided to the investigation. He added that his office has been in close contact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and they are going to be a large part of the saturation patrols over the next couple of weeks.

Asked by a reporter if any of the recent house fires in Wewoka were related to the gang violence, Johnson replied that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating, that investigation is currently ongoing, and he is staying in communication with the agent in charge.

Asked what charges are anticipated, Johnson replied there are multiple gun charges, felons in possession of firearms, and conspiracy. One of the suspects had warrants out of Texas, and another individual had warrants for a sex offense. Johnson added they are taking every step possible to determine if their targeted suspects have any warrants in other jurisdictions that might assist them in scooping them up and getting them out of the community.

“I’ve already made this intention very clear, that those that visit violence on any community that I represent is going to get due process to the fullest extent of the law, and I’ve received that same assurance from my counterpart on the federal level,” Johnson said.

After confirming that all six arrests were made in Wewoka, Johnson added there was a transitory nature to some of the individuals, and shared that this investigation is not confined to the city limits of Wewoka.

Asked the number of shootings there’s been in Wewoka, Johnson replied that the number he pulled from dispatch was 54 reported instances of gunfire reported over the past year. He clarified that these number can be homogenized some, because there can be three separate reports of the same gunfire instance. He expects this number to be much less, but they are analyzing that.

“I feel like we’re standing them up and knocking them down,” Johnson stated at one point. “And we’re going to continue to do that over the next couple of weeks until these issues are resolved. You know, our officers and my office have the same interests that every citizen in Wewoka does. We want to live in Wewoka safely, peacefully, raise our families, go to work, own our homes, and be safe from any level of violence.

“Furthermore, we have a responsibility for the safety of every child in Seminole County, and I don’t like that we are going to online school and moving football games. I understand the level of concern, but I want citizens to be fully aware that there is a lot of law enforcement saturating Wewoka right now. I’m excited about the response, and I think it is making our community a safer place. I do not believe there is a threat to the public at this time.”