Vian Mayor Dennis Fletcher has been charged with misdemeanor obstruction following an incident at a high school baseball tournament in Payne County, Oklahoma, where a deputy said Fletcher refused to comply with repeated orders to step back during an investigation.

The incident occurred on March 21 at a baseball field at Ripley High School near Stillwater.

According to the Payne County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy was responding to multiple issues at the event, including complaints about individuals attempting to park on private property and reports of spectators using profanity during a game between Vian and Ripley the night before.

While the deputy was speaking with an individual regarding the parking concerns, authorities said Fletcher and another man approached and attempted to join the conversation.

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The deputy stated that Fletcher was not involved in the initial investigation and was instructed to step back multiple times.

Body camera footage released from the incident shows the deputy addressing Fletcher and the other individual, referencing a recently enacted state law governing interactions with law enforcement.

“There’s a new state law that says if I tell you to leave, you have to leave. You have to be 25 feet away. So, go,” the deputy said.

The footage captures a back-and-forth exchange, with the men questioning the directive while remaining near the deputy.

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“That’s not a state law,” one of the men responded.

“Yeah, it is a new state law… Y’all can go,” the deputy said.

The interaction continued as tensions escalated.

“Are you escalating or deescalating?” one of the men asked.

“You’re going to jail,” the deputy replied.

According to authorities, the law referenced in the exchange was passed by the state legislature last year and took effect in November.

The measure requires individuals to maintain a specified distance from first responders while they are performing official duties, with the stated goal of preventing interference.

State Representative John George, who authored the legislation, described its purpose in statements following its passage.

“When we have a first responder doing their official duty, people need to stay back and allow them to do that duty,” George said.

An affidavit filed in the case states that Fletcher was not directly involved in the deputy’s investigation and that he refused to comply with repeated commands to step away from the scene.

The document further indicates that Fletcher continued to engage with the deputy despite multiple warnings.

Video from the scene shows Fletcher being taken into custody at the baseball field. During the arrest, the deputy is heard explaining the basis for the action.

“If I’m making a contact and I tell you to get back, you have to get back… You refused to get back,” the deputy said.

Fletcher was arrested at the scene and later charged with misdemeanor obstruction under the state law requiring individuals to keep their distance from law enforcement officers during active investigations.

The case centers on whether Fletcher’s actions constituted interference under the statute and whether the deputy’s orders were lawful under the circumstances.

The incident has drawn attention due to Fletcher’s position as mayor and the setting of the arrest at a high school sporting event.

Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges are expected.

The investigation remains ongoing as officials review the body camera footage and other evidence related to the encounter.

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