Bartlesville PD Under Fire: Armitage Arrest & Officer Blackard Fallout!

Should a momentary lapse in judgment, fueled by a grandmothers desperate race against time, result in an arrest and a lawsuit? The case of Misty Armitage and Bartlesville Police Officer Reed Blackard has ignited a firestorm of controversy, raising profound questions about police discretion, accountability, and the human cost of split-second decisions.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, April 14, unfolded as Armitage was rushing her granddaughter, who was experiencing a severe nosebleed and vomiting blood, to the emergency room. According to Armitage, Bartlesville Police Department (BPD) Officer Reed Blackard initiated a traffic stop. What followed has become the subject of intense debate, fueled by footage of the interaction showing Armitage being placed in the backseat of a police car after pulling over. A year later, Armitage is suing the Bartlesville Police Department (BPD), alleging false arrest and assault, claiming officers forcibly removed her from her vehicle during her desperate attempt to get her granddaughter medical attention. Adding fuel to the fire, two women have filed suit against the city of Bartlesville and BPD officers Reed Blackard and Levi Johnson, alleging injuries from two separate arrests. The civil suit, filed in Washington County District Court, claims false arrest and assault during these altercations.