TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Tahlequah City Council voted to terminate Tahlequah's assistant police chief after the DA filed criminal charges against him.
Tahlequah Assistant Police Chief Dexter Scott is charged with malicious injury to property after he allegedly vandalized lake equipment in retaliation.
2 News Oklahoma's Erin Christy took a closer look at the allegations during the investigation.
At Burnt Cabin Marina on Lake Tenkiller, owner Bryce Lubbers was excited to show off his newest attraction this season: an inflatable park.
WATCH: Tahlequah assistant police chief faces termination over vandalism incident:
“Very expensive, very time consuming—a lot of effort went into it,” said Lubbers.
On Memorial Day weekend, a few of the inflatables had been up a mere two hours, when Lubbers says a couple of men walked into the bar area with outside alcoholic beverages. He asked them to leave. Minutes later, Lubbers says once of the inflatables began to collapse.
Lubbers posted surveillance video on the Facebook page days after the incident:
“I think that upset them enough, that they wanted to retaliate and knife one of my inflatables,” said Lubbers.
Lubbers says they were able to patch up the damage, but it still leaks. Ultimately, he says they will have to buy a new one. He says the damages were more than $11,000.
Lubbers turned the surveillance video to the Tahlequah Police Department when he was told one of the perpetrators may be Assistant Police Chief Dexter Scott.
“On a personal level, I am heartbroken; on a professional level, I am heartbroken,” said Police Chief Nate King.
King says Scott was placed on administrative leave during an investigation into the incident. After a review by the department as well as multiple city leaders, they recommended termination, saying Scott violated at least three policies related to conduct.
“He is one of my best friends—he was in my wedding, our families vacation together; this has been a gut-wrenching time,” said King. “In the end, the decision was clear, but it didn’t make it easy.”
Lubbers is ready to move on and enjoy the rest of summer with his latest investment.
“I think termination is an appropriate punishment for someone who is in law enforcement and doesn’t come out and tell you about it,” said Lubbers.
Scott requested an administrative hearing, which is an appeal of sorts.
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