Barbara Barrick Files Wrongful Death Civil Rights Lawsuit Against McCurtain County Officials Following Husband’s Death

On Thursday, April 20, 2023, Barbara Barrick spoke to the media in front of the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office in Idabel, Oklahoma, to announce a wrongful death civil rights lawsuit she had filed against the McCurtain County Board of County Commissioners, McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, and several sheriff’s deputies and other parties. The lawsuit was filed in response to the death of her husband, who died following an arrest in 2022.

The McCurtain Gazette-News released audio late Wednesday of Sheriff Clardy reportedly talking about killing journalists who were reporting on her husband’s death, as well as boasting about physically confronting the local district attorney and threatening to “whoop his ass.” In the audio, Clardy is heard saying he shouldn’t have said what he did, but that he was “pissed.”

Barrick’s lawsuit seeks damages for the wrongful death of her husband, as well as punitive damages for the defendants’ alleged violations of her husband’s civil rights. She is also seeking an injunction to prevent the defendants from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

The lawsuit comes at a time when the public is increasingly aware of the need for police reform and accountability. Barrick’s case is a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that justice is served.