UPDATE:
OKLAHOMA CITY, (KOKH) — Debbie Brinkley’s charge has been upgraded from willful neglect to perform duty to second-degree manslaughter.
Brinkley has now been charged with a criminal felony and has been bonded out of jail on a $15,000 bond.
ORIGINAL:
An Oklahoma County Detention Center employee has been fired and arrested following the recent death of an inmate.
The OCDC Criminal Investigation Division arrested Debbie Brinkley following an investigation into the recent inmate homicide on April 25.
According to OCDC, Brinkley failed to take appropriate action during the altercation that led to the homicide.
Clinton Pike, age 40, was pronounced deceased Friday, April 25, following an altercation with an inmate housed in the same cell.
During the investigation, evidence revealed that a third inmate in a nearby cell made four phone calls reporting sounds of an assault.
Binkley only answered two of these phone calls, and on both occasions, did not notify security staff to respond and intervene.
Twenty minutes after the last phone call was made, Pike was discovered during a routine check by another detention officer.
Pike’s cellmate, Orenzo Byrd, was arrested and charged with Pike’s murder.
Binkley has been charged with willful neglect to perform duty.
“Negligence that jeopardizes the safety of individuals in our custody will not be tolerated,” said Paul Timmons, Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority. “Our commitment to maintaining the security and welfare of all inmates and staff requires that every employee uphold the highest standards of professionalism. When they do not, they will be held accountable to the fullest extent.”
