Oklahoma Law Enforcement Tracks Down Domestic Violence Offenders

The U.S. Marshal Service and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office are tracking down offenders of domestic violence as part of a nationwide effort. Authorities went door to door of the homes of offenders with a warrant for their arrest.

"Man, I'm not going to tell you again open that door!" a deputy said. "Step out. Step out."

Just as it's hard to get offenders to step out and face consequences of their actions, it's hard for victims to realize the cycle they themselves are in, as well.

"Until the victim gets help, it's kind of a catch-22,” Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Larry Grant said. "Let's go ahead and clear the house."

Sometimes victims will defend their abusers.

"How's he related to you, ma'am?"

"We been in a relationship."

"You were the victim?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

"Are you still in a relationship with him? Kind of. Sort of."

They also help hide them, but not in this case.

"It's just like she told me she said, 'He left two weeks ago, but I still love him.'" Grant said. "Lots of times what we'll see is the person who we're looking for will go back to that victim and talk his or her way back in, and then they're buddies again."

Adults aren't the only victims. There were children in two of the homes News 9 visited with authorities.

“James Brown. How are you, buddy? We got a warrant for you, dude."

"Domestic abuse."

"For who?"

"Don't ask me."

"I ain't got no domestic violence nowhere here."

"The last domestic violence I had was way back in 2004."

"You got a failure to appear."

"When?"

When the abuse happened has no bearing on Wednesday’s arrest. Authorities say they don't want it to happen again.

"I don't want it on my conscience we're looking for somebody and just blew it off, and then the next thing you know we've got another homicide or somebody gets badly beaten,” Grant said.