Pubdate: Thu, 12 Feb 2004
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2004 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Chad Previch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/regrettably

NAACP OFFICIAL MISTAKEN FOR SUSPECT

Law officers handcuffed an executive board member of Oklahoma City's
NAACP Wednesday in northeast Oklahoma City before releasing him.

Sean Baker said members of the Drug Enforcement Agency forced him to
the ground at a gasoline station with guns drawn, then released him
about 6 p.m. while his family watched.

"It was terrible," said Baker, who is a police and criminal justice
investigator with the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People. "My children are terrified. My children have never
experienced anything like that in their life."

Agents were tracking a man wanted on drug complaints.

They nearly arrested the man they were looking for earlier but
failed.

After the incident with Baker, they arrested the other man
later.

Bob Surovec, assistant special agent in charge of the Oklahoma City
DEA office, told KWTV NEWS 9 that agents received a tip that the
wanted man was supposed to be near the gasoline station.

"Regrettably it was not the subject we were looking for, and
regrettably he was there with his wife and family," Surovec said.

"We're sorry this incident happened."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin