'Want to see accountability': Wagoner County residents push for grand jury petition, investigation into Sheriff and District Attorney

Some people in Wagoner County are circulating a petition, calling for a grand jury to remove both the Sheriff and District Attorney from office.

Wagoner County Citizens Against Corruption

A group called the Wagoner County Citizens Against Corruption wants an investigation into Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliot and District Attorney Jack Thorp, accusing the pair of corruption and mismanagement. 

The petition brings up four cases, including 2 people who died in custody.

Death of Angela Liggans 

The petition accuses the DA of breaking the law by not charging anyone in the deaths of Angela Liggans and Jeffrey Krueger. In 2021, Wagoner County Jail inmate Angela Liggans died of diabetic ketoacidosis, and the petition says she was denied insulin. Thorp says the OSBI investigated and didn't recommend any charges.

Death of Jeffrey Krueger

In 2019, Wagoner County deputies arrested Jeffrey Krueger, and the petition claims he died from excessive force. Thorp says OSBI also investigated that case. 

District Attorney Responds

Thorp denies the allegations in the petition and has asked a judge to dismiss it. 

"Number 1, that's not specific enough in order to alert the public as to what my role was in relation to those investigations. Number 2, they used the plaintiff’s complaint in the civil cases rather than any type of a criminal investigation in order to make that allegation,” he said. 

Thorp says his office plans to investigate what he says are false statements made in the petition.

Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliot sent a statement that says in part, “I respect the public's right to seek transparency and oversight but categorically deny any allegations of mismanagement or misconduct.”