JUDGE WASN'T TARGET OF DRUG BUST

An Altus City Judge and a City of Altus employee, both arrested during a
drug bust at a Lawton residence Friday morning, were apparently in the
wrong place at the wrong time.

Lawton police say they had a warrant to search the residence of Norris
Hill, a known drug dealer, but didn't know who the two Altus people were
when the bust happened. While police were at the residence they seized 20
grams of cocaine and arrested three people including Hill, David Thomas,
49, and Patricia Webster, 44.

Thomas, a former assistant district attorney, was arrested on complaints of
possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Webster who was
a receptionist at Altus City Hall, was arrested on complaints possession of
cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hill was apprehended on a complaint of trafficking cocaine.

David Schucker, an officer with Lawton Police Department Special Operations
Division, said the arrests were part of an investigation directed at Hill.

"We were aware of him," said Schucker. "We didn't know who the two people
from Altus were. They just happened to be there when the warrant was served."

A search warrant was obtained and served at about 10:30 a.m. Friday at
Hill's home in the 5800 block of Northwest Baldwin Avenue in Lawton. The
warrant stemmed from an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip according to police.

All three could face stiffer charges because the drug bust occurred near an
elementary school. They were expected to make their initial appearance in
Comanche County District Court sometime today.

The arrests of both Thomas and Webster caught City of Altus officials by
surprise.

'Yes, it surprised me," said Altus Mayor T.L. Gramling. "I heard some
rumors afterwards but I certainly didn't expect this."

Gramling said that Webster has been dismissed from her position with the
city since the incident in Lawton. "She was already on probation," said
Gramling.

Thomas' status is technically not been dealt with, but it is expected he
will be formerly dismissed by the Altus City Council.

"It will take council action," said City Administrator Mike Nettles. "But
that is a safe assumption."

City Attorney Catherine Coke said Gramling would make a recommendation to
the replacement of Thomas, which must be approved by the city council.

Currently Phil Olson, a judge in juvenile court and a backup to the city
judge's position, will take over Thomas' duties until a replacement is named.

Thomas was an assistant district attorney in the 1980s when Steve Suttle
was the District Attorney. He is a member of the law firm of Latham, Nelson
and Thomas.