Tuesday, April 13th 2021, 4:17 pm
Ruby Jones was detained by Oklahoma City police officers back in August, but now, she is filing a lawsuit against three officers and the City.
On Tuesday, Jones and her attorney spoke at a news conference along with community leaders.
Her attorney said the 74-year-old is still having health issues that stem from the incident and the lawsuit is just one step they're taking.
OCPD said the officers were at Jones' home to arrest Chauncey Jones, her son.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Chauncey Jones allegedly called a behavioral health center, that same day, and threatened to blow it up.
"She stated, 'well, let me see your warrant,' (and) they never showed it to her," said Ruby Jones' attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons.
"He is manic depressive, he's manic I'm telling you all," said Ruby Jones in the bodycam video the police department released.
When Ruby Jones wouldn't leave the home and said she was scared for her son, police handcuff her, according to the same bodycam video.
Ruby Jones described what happened through tears.
Her attorney said her arm was broken. In the bodycam video, she said she has a heart condition. Still, Ruby Jones was held in a patrol car for almost an hour.
"I know, it was God that spared my life, because I would have been dead all those different things," said Ruby Jones.
Ruby Jones' attorney said she was never given medical treatment, and they want immediate action.
"Oklahoma City has a long history of treating Black people and particularly, Black women as less than," Solomon-Simmons said. "That's what happened here. That's why we are filing this lawsuit. That's why we are calling on these officers to be terminated."
He said they are also sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice to ask for them to investigate Oklahoma City Police Department.
In a statement released in February, the police department said Ruby Jones never asked for medical attention, but complained about her arm. They said the officers should have made greater efforts to de-escalate prior to using force and corrective action including training had been taken.
"You don't have to be trained to know not to go in there and abuse and elderly person," said Oklahoma City NAACP President Garland Pruitt.
The Oklahoma City Police Department did not give any additional comments after the news conference on Tuesday.
April 13th, 2021
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