Justice for Mah-ah-vist Goodblanket

In late December 2013 a call was placed to 911 by the parents of an 18-year-old who believed the responding police employees could help to calm their son, who was having what they deemed a “mental episode.” Instead, their son was killed, shot seven times including a shot to the back of the head. The shooters wore badges. Dennis Smith, the DA of Custer County, in western Oklahoma, said they were justified. I don’t agree.

Someone had suggested I look into the death of Mah-ah-vist (which means “Red Bird” in Cheyenne) Touching Cloud Goodblanket. In early March I met his parents, Melissa and Wilbur, as I rolled east on my jaunt. I spent half a week in western Oklahoma with them and others in their community.

The couple is definitely resolute and well-respected, and I believe, speak the truth when stating that their son was taken unjustly.

In her own words, Melissa shared on the Facebook Page created to exchange information about her sons death:

Immediately after the shooting death a couple Custer County sheriff employees were given a paid vacation but they’ve long been back on the streets. To be clear, thus far, those who took the life of their son have faced no responsibility.

The supervisor of the killers, Bruce Peoples went into spin control mode after the shooting – immediately backing his colleagues and either purposefully or unknowingly misstating facts.

When I stopped by the facility where the killers are employed no one would speak with me, not even the woman working the front lobby desk – almost as if they’d been instructed not to communicate with me, perhaps after being tipped off of my presence* as I had visited the Oklahoma State Patrol facility in Clinton the day before**, where some also present at Mah-ah-vists killing worked from (in total, five Custer County sheriff employees, six Oklahoma State Patrol employees, and a couple Clinton police employees, and am ambulance were present at the Goodblanket property).

* to see raw video of exchanges visit http://bambuser.com/channel/copblock then search “arapaho”
** to see raw video of exchanges visit http://bambuser.com/channel/copblock then search “clinton”

The incident was investigated by employees of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, who provided their report to Dennis, who last week found the shooting “justified.” That isn’t by itself surprising – that actors who work for the “justice system” are subjected to perverse incentives and they act accordingly. Double standards are applied to the kings men.

The Goodblankets are now considering filing a suit against those involved. A couple of weeks ago they and dozens of others held a rally outside a domed building in Oklahoma City, where they vocalized their quest for justice.

I am under no illusion that justice can ever be had through an institution that at its core is coercive. It is tragic that Mah-ah-vist was taken. But there is good coming from this. The Goodblankets have not cowered. They have undoubtedly empowered others to come together and speak out.

Mah-hi-vist lives on in each of us who strive for truth – that badges don’t grant extra rights.

Custer County Sheriffs Department

• (580) 323-1616
• 700 North 7th Ave, Arapaho, OK 73620
• http://custercountysheriff.com
• http://facebook.com/CusterCountySO

Clinton Police Department

• (580) 323-2323
• 401 Gary Blvd., Clinton, OK 73601
• http://clintonokla.org/city-services/public-safety/police-department

Oklahoma State Patrol Troop G

• (580) 323-2424
• 2225 Gary Freeway, Clinton, OK 73601
• http://www.ohptroopers.com/troops.html

Justice for Mah-ah-vist Goodblanket is a post from Cop Block – Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights