SHERIFF EMPLOYEES REMAIN ON SUSPENSION

TAHLEQUAH - The suspensions of a Cherokee County sheriff's deputy and
jailer will continue, Sheriff Norman Fisher said Monday.

Fisher on Friday suspended Deputy Dusty Ryals and Jailer Lynn Trammel after
Chief Investigator Jason Chennault and an investigator for the District 27
drug task force found marijuana and paraphernalia at their home north of
Tahlequah earlier last week.

Fisher said Monday that he and District Attorney Richard L. Gray have
decided to seek the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's assistance in
the matter before a final decision on Ryals' and Trammel's status is made.

Fisher spoke with Gray Monday morning, and he also talked to the two employees.

"At this time, they'll remain on suspension with pay until the OSBI does
its investigation," he said. "We thought it would be best for an outside
agency to look at everything."

Fisher said last week the DA's investigator received information that Ryals
and Trammel may be involved in getting drugs into the jail. He said both
employees have cooperated in the investigation.

Both men are denying the allegations, and claim the marijuana seized last
week was some Ryals took as evidence during an arrest. He said it was being
kept at his home because his work locker could not be secured. His
supervisor told him to retain the marijuana so the chain of custody would
not be broken.

Gray said the "bong" (marijuana smoking device) seized also showed a trace
of methamphetamine.