Investigation Still Open After OSBI Recommended No Charges In Inmate’s Death

The district attorney for Pottawatomie County, Allan Grubb, said the death of an in-custody man is still open, even after authorities said the death was justified.

Ronald Given was booked into the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center shortly after midnight on January 9, 2019. About 10 hours later he was released and hospitalized, according to family and the jail director.

On January 16, Given’s aunt said they pulled him off life support and he was pronounced dead.

At Grubb’s request, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation looked into the case. The agency recommended no criminal charges after months of investigating, finding the death to be justified.

Still, Grubb said his office is keeping the case open.

“We’ve reviewed the (OSBI) report with my chief investigator and there’s some follow-up investigation that needs to be done,” Grubb said.

An autopsy classified Given’s death as a homicide and found the probable cause to be "multiple system organ failure." The possible reasons behind the organ failure, according to the medical examiner’s report, included “Cardiac arrhythmia… Struggle resisting restraint by officers,” and “violent mental/psychiatric disorder.”

The report also said Given had blisters on his chest, abdomen, upper back, arms, and upper thighs, as well as a contusion on the back of his head.

Grubb said he could not comment on the details of the case because it’s open and said he could neither confirm nor deny if security cameras captured an incident involving officers and Given at the jail.

Given’s family and friends, as well as members of the Native American community in Shawnee protested outside of Grubb’s office on Friday, calling on him to charge someone in connection to Ronald’s death.

Given’s aunt and close family friend, Michael Deer, met with Grubb on Tuesday. They left with a newfound sense of confidence in his office.

“We can walk away with confidence in DA Grubb that he will do his job,” Deer said. “I believe that there will be justice for Ronnie.”

The director of the PCPSC said they could not comment on the ongoing case.