DA SEEKS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane asked the community to join
together at noon today to demonstrate support for the police and peace by
turning on their vehicle headlights.

Unrest from the protest over the police treatment of Donald Reed Pete has
Oklahoma County officials turning to the community for support, said Debbie
Forshee, Lane's public information officer.

"The problem is we don't want to go into the weekend with one group of
people ready to go to war on police officers," Forshee said. "We want to
nip this in the bud now. Hate will not be tolerated in Oklahoma City."

Pete, 50, has been at the center of a national media spotlight since a
local man videotaped his arrest Monday by officers Greg Driskill and E.J.
Dyer. In the tape, the officers appear to strike Pete at least 27 times
with tactical batons while attempting to handcuff him on suspicion of
soliciting prostitution.

Police have said Pete was eating a bag of marijuana in an attempt to
destroy evidence.

NAACP representatives called for disciplinary action against Driskill and
Dyer, including prosecution on charges of using excessive force.