NORMAN, Okla. – Norman Police showed surveillance video to the media showing a star recruit for the OU football team punching a female student.
Joe Mixon has been charged with a misdemeanor after the punch left broken bones in 20-year-old Amelia Monitor’s face.
Molitor told officers the argument started outside of Pickleman’s Deli and stemmed from a homosexual slur Mixon directed towards her friend.
The video only lasts for about three minutes. The chain of events that led to that punch was quick, but it answers some of the questions we had about that night.
Unfortunately, our viewers won’t be allowed to see the video today. The only reason Norman Police let NewsChannel 4 watch the video was because of open records requests.
It starts at 2:39 a.m. when 20 year old Amelia Molitor walks in with two friends.
She waves Mixon inside and they talk for a few seconds and Mixon tries to walk away.
As he tried to walk away the video shows Molitor push him.
He lunges back towards her and she slaps him.
After that, he punches and leaves her unable to move on the ground
The entire altercation was over by 2:42 a.m.
Senator Holt says he was disappointed in Norman’s decision to keep us from making a copy of that video.
State Senator David Holt says, “This is 2014 and they’re forcing the media to describe orally a tape that they got to watch on our behalf today.”
But by the department’s interpretation of the law, they technically don’t have to make a copy.
Right now, current law states they must make the video available for public inspection not copying.
“Nothing is stopping them from giving you a copy,” says Holt. “This statute is permissive. They could give you the copy today, but what they’re claiming is they don’t have to until November 1.”
That’s because of a recent amendment to the Open Records Act, which takes effect November 1st, that states they must make the video available for public inspection and copying.
Norman’s City Attorney’s office tells us they think releasing the video will affect Mixon’s right to a fair trial.
“This trial is not going to happen before November 1st,” says Holt. “It’s just a fact. No one believes the wheels of justice move that quickly.”
Although Norman Police won’t have a choice in a couple of months, Holt calls their actions a setback for transparency.
The Norman City Attorney’s office says anyone who files an open records act will be able to view the surveillance video before November 1st.
Click here to read more on Joe Mixon.
