Attack on worker prompts renewed calls for courthouse security

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- Officials at the Washington County Courthouse have renewed their call for increased security after a child welfare worker was attacked.

Carl Gene Buoy, 27, of Tulsa, is facing an assult-on-a-witness charge after he rushed into the courthouse law library on Friday to confront a Department of Human Services child welfare worker who had just testified against him, said assistant district attorney Steve Kunzweiler.

The welfare worker, whose name is being withheld by authorities, attempted to usher Buoy's two young children out the door when he attacked her. She suffered minor injuries.

"He became angry and shoved her against the wall with the door on the way out, using the door as a weapon," Kunzweiler said.

He also faces child abuse charges in connection with incidents in which the children were bruised and weapons charges arising from three loaded handguns found in his car during a traffic stop.

"Our Building Commission has been trying for the past three years to obtain funding to improve security at the courthouse,"

Kunzweiler said. "And this is a perfect example of why we need to do it."

Ironically, the latest courthouse attack came on the same day the Building Commission received a promise from county commissioners that $14,000 in general fund money will be allotted for increased courthouse security.

The county funds will be pooled with $10,000 in building committee trust funds to pay for an armed guard and metal detector at the courthouse entrance.

However, the county funds will not be available until the next fiscal year, which means it will be July 1 at the earliest to get the new security in place.

"I personally was not among those voting for it because I think there is security in place, and security depends a lot upon the person," Commissioner Jim Sheetz said. "However, I am not opposed to it at this time. If this security measure is what they feel they need and they can pay for it, they should have it."

Washington County court officials have been lobbying the commissioners for years in an attempt to put in place a stronger security system.

District judges and prosecutors issued a strong appeal to the board a few months ago after court defendants made threats and showed up at hearings with weapons.