Adam Michael Mehagan, Deputy Sheriff
Robert W "Bob" Arnold , Deputy Sheriff
Osage County Sheriff's Office
On December 13, 1924,
Deputy Arnold had gone to the home of William A Bailey in Wildhorse, 12 miles
southeast of Hominy, to serve an arrest warrant on Bailey’s son Bill, 25.
William advised the deputy that his son was not home. Deputy Arnold entered the
house to look for the younger Bailey. When Deputy Arnold pulled back a curtain
that divided a room, where Bill was hiding, Bill shot the deputy twice, in the
groin and stomach. Deputy Arnold, 48, died the next night in a Tulsa hospital,
survived by his wife and three children.
Adam Michael Mehagan, Deputy Sheriff
Osage County Sheriffs Office
At 11:30 P.M. the night of Wednesday, December 2, 2009, Deputy Mehagan, 25, received a call to back another Deputy on a burglary in progress call. At 11:50 P.M. the assigned Deputy advised that his back up unit could disregard (10-22) as everything was ok at the scene. Dispatcher tried to advise Deputy Mehagan but could get no response. Shorty after midnight other units started looking for Deputy Mehagan. He and his unit were located about 12:10 A.M. He had failed to negotiate an S curve while north bound on County Road 1475 a mile south of County Road 1401 and 1.5 miles north of Prue in the far southern part of Osage County. Deputy Mehagan’s 2006 Ford Crown Victoria squad car had rolled twice ejecting him. He died at the scene shortly before midnight from his injuries. Deputy Mehagan had been a Deputy for nine months. He served with the Pawhuska Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office prior to going to work for Osage County. Deputy Mehagan is survived by his wife Amber and eleven month old daughter Amber Rea.
James Sam Shelley, City Marshal and Deputy Sheriff
City of Pershing
Osage County Sheriff’s Office
On Wednesday, May 11, 1921, Sam Shelley, Deputy Sheriff of Osage County and City Marshal of Pershing, was shot and killed by two bandits whom he attempted to arrest. Shelley found the men attempting to break into a railroad freight car. After shooting the officer the men escaped in an auto, previously stolen from Pawhuska. The car was later recovered, but the men were not captured. A $1,500 reward was offered for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who shot and killed James S. Shelley.
James D Snider, Deputy Sheriff
Osage County Sheriff's Office
The evening of Sunday, February 13, 1921, Deputy Snider was called to the Midland Café in Avant in reference to a free for all fight. As Deputy Snider entered the café he was struck in the right temple by a heavy metal flashlight reportedly thrown by an intoxicated C. C. Moberly. Deputy Snider arrested Moberly and put him in the custody of some citizens outside the cafe. He and Constable George Bolt then were able to quite the other customers inside of the café. When they returned outside they found the men holding Moberly had let him go home. As the two officers walked to Moberly’s house Deputy Snider commented on the blow to his head stating it was “quite a jolt”. When the officers arrived at the house Deputy Snider waited out side the fence while Constable Bolt was sent in to bring Moberly out. When Bolt returned with Moberly he found the 45 year old deputy unconscious. He died about ten minutes later. It was determined that Deputy Snider had suffered a brain concussion from the blow by the flashlight. Moberly was charged with murder.