Published: January 08, 2009 10:50 pm      

1-9 OKC watch

Man dies after being shot by OC officer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City police say an officer shot and killed a man who charged him with a knife.

Police said officer Christopher Hortness shot 24-year-old Adam Johnson at an apartment complex in northwest Oklahoma City about 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

Hortness had gone to the complex after Johnson’s roommate reported Johnson was threatening suicide.

Police said when Hortness arrived he found Johnson cutting himself with a knife.

Hortness said he ordered Johnson to drop the knife, but Johnson charged him instead and the officer opened fire.

Hortness is on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

Appellete court rules against employee

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has ruled a state board that regulates veterinarians had the right to fire an employee for discussing a 2004 dogfighting investigation with an outside party.

The opinion reversed a decision by a U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City, which denied a claim of immunity by Cathy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the state Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Rajeanna Dixon, an investigative assistant who performed mostly clerical duties, argued her constitutional rights to free speech were violated by her dismissal.

In remanding the case back to the district court on Thursday, the Denver court said an investigative agency is within its rights to discipline an employee with access to confidential materials for discussing details of an agency investigation with an outside party.