Sergeant Bobby Swartz was killed in the line of duty while serving an eviction notice three years ago.
What began as a clear-cut murder case with a confession from the suspect has evolved into a test of Oklahoma’s mental health system and intense scrutiny over accountability inside the state’s own forensic hospital.
The Ambush: Sgt. Bobby Swartz Killed in the Line of Duty
On August 22, 2022, three deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a home in southwest Oklahoma City to serve Benjamin Plank with eviction papers.
Within minutes, the call for backup crackled over the radio.
“County — shots fired! Shots fired!”
By the time the gunfire stopped, Sgt. Swartz was gone, and Deputy Mark Johns was barely hanging on. Both were shot — Swartz as he approached the back door of the home, Johns while shielding his partner from further gunfire…