Two Arrested For Attacking Oklahoma Sheriff's Deputy

Deanne Stein, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two men are arrested after allegedly attacking an Oklahoma County Sheriff's Deputy early Monday morning inside a Bricktown restaurant.

According to the sheriff's office, the deputy was working security at the I-HOP located in the 400 block of East California when he says employees inside the restaurant asked him to remove two men. 

The deputy said he asked the two men to leave and was following them out when one of the men, Felix Banjo, 23, allegedly turned around and grabbed the deputy by the throat and started choking the deputy.

The sheriff's office said the deputy attempted to get Banjo under control when a large group of people at the restaurant surrounded the deputy. While the deputy was attempting to place Banjo in custody another man, Anthony Starks, 24, grabbed the deputy from behind.

Starks also allegedly grabbed the deputy's neck and began choking him. Starks was not one of two people the deputy was originally asked to escort out of the restaurant.

The deputy was able to get out the choke hold and assisted by Oklahoma City police officers, who arrived shortly thereafter. Banjo and Starks were taken into custody and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Banjo and Starks were both booked on several complaints including assault on a police officer, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.

The deputy suffered some minor injuries as a result of the attacks.