In the heat of an Oklahoma August, a day tasked with the routine duty of serving an eviction notice tragically turned into a scene of violence and loss. On August 22, 2022, Oklahoma County Sheriff's Sergeant Bobby Swartz, a 58-year-old man and a 25-year veteran of the force, was fatally shot in the line of duty in southwest Oklahoma City. The events unfolded when Swartz and two other deputies, Mark Johns and Melody Norton, arrived at a residence near S.W.
78th and Youngs to serve lockout papers as part of an eviction process.
As the deputies attempted to carry out their duty, they were met with gunfire. Swartz was shot near the back door of the home. In a courageous act, Deputy Johns was wounded as he tried to pull his fallen colleague to safety. Deputy Norton, who was on the other side of the house, was not physically injured in the initial volley of shots. The gunman, later identified as 35-year-old Benjamin Plank, had allegedly planned to attack any law enforcement officer who came to his house.
Following the shooting, Plank fled the scene in a pickup truck, towing a boat, which led to a dramatic and dangerous pursuit by law enforcement. During the chase, Plank fired at pursuing officers, who returned fire. The pursuit came to an end at the entrance of Tinker Air Force Base when Plank surrendered after throwing a rifle out of his vehicle. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder, shooting with intent to kill, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon.
Sergeant Bobby Swartz was transported to the OU Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. His death was a profound loss to his family, who remembered him as a loving 'Papa Policeman' to his grandchildren, and to the law enforcement community, who praised his dedication, compassion, and 'servant's heart.' Deputy Mark Johns was hospitalized and underwent surgery for his injuries and has since medically retired from the sheriff's office. The case against Benjamin Plank is proceeding through the legal system, with ongoing competency hearings.
