Gene Stipe, Web operator file complaints after altercation

Wednesday, December 21st 2005, 5:14 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) _ An altercation between longtime state Sen. Gene Stipe and the operator of a local Internet site known as McAlester Watercooler resulted in both men filing police complaints.

Web site operator Harold King claims in a police report that he was assaulted Monday by Stipe outside a McAlester restaurant. Stipe and his brother, Francis Stipe, filed a stalking complaint, alleging King is harassing them.

According to King, Gene Stipe grabbed him around the neck and threatened to hit him.

But Francis Stipe claims King was stalking the brothers and confronted them outside the restaurant.

``He walked up to Gene, stuck his belly out and said 'You don't look like you're sick' and that he didn't like some of the things Gene had done,'' Francis Stipe said. ``If there was any touching done, Harold King did it.''

McAlester Police Capt. Darrell Miller said he will interview witnesses and the complainants before sending a report to the district attorney for possible action.

Stipe previously sought a criminal libel charge against King for information posted on his Web site, but a Pittsburg County district judge tossed the case after reviewing evidence and Oklahoma's criminal slander law.