Tahlequah Daily Press

Local News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
November 5, 2009

Zal accused in another officer attack

By BOB GIBBINS



A Tahlequah man with a history of assaulting local law enforcement officers faces multiple charges after a scuffle with Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies.

Watie Zal, 47, was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies Bronson McNiel and Tommy Moore after they responded to a call for help from Charles Harmon and Vicki Cornsilk. McNiel and Moore were both injured while trying to arrest Zal, also known as Watie Buckhorn.

McNiel suffered injuries to his face when Zal struck him with rings on his hands. One of Moore’s arms was put in a brace after the incident.

Zal reportedly became agitated with Harmon and Cornsilk after the pair noticed a dog with a string tied around one of its paws. The paw was swollen below the string, and Zal allegedly admitted tying the string to the dog’s leg.

Zal allegedly confronted Harmon and Cornsilk with a knife and chased them into a bathroom. Reports state Zal jammed the knife in the bathroom door, and it remained there until deputies arrived.

Zal was booked on two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, a count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, cruelty to animals, and making threats to kill McNiel and Moore.

Zal has convictions for assault dating back to 1988. His last two convictions were for assaults on Tahlequah police officers. TPD Detective Capt. Dale Glory was involved in an incident with Zal in 1993 for which Zal served 10 years in prison, and within days of his release from prison in 2002, Zal was in a fight with TPD Officers Chris Boals and Casey Baker in the Sequoyah City Park. He received a five-year sentence on that case, and was released from prison in June 2007.

Text Only
Local News
  • kp Burger main.tif What’s on the bun?

    Perhaps no other food on the American summer holiday menu epitomizes patriotism more than a good old-fashioned hamburger.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Best gifts can be made from scratch

    When hand-crafting gifts to honor loved ones or friends, a fellowship can be born.

    May 25, 2012

  • Injury crash provokes felony charge

    Prosecutors have charged a Tahlequah man for his alleged role in causing a crash that put another man on life support.
    The charges stem from a May 18 crash at the intersection of the State Highway 51 West bypass and Vinita.

    May 25, 2012

  • Testimony in Butcher trial centers on evidence

    Testimony given throughout the day Thursday in the first-degree murder case against Bronson William Butcher centered mostly on the state’s investigation of the case.

    May 25, 2012

  • Oklahoma City man charged with larceny here

    Prosecutors in Cherokee County have charged an Oklahoma City man with grand larceny, second-degree burglary, and larceny of an automobile.

    May 25, 2012

  • Local men’s shelter at risk of closing

    Tom Lewis walked through the semi-completed expansion at Project O Si Yo Thursday, pointing out what services could be provided to area homeless men, if only the funding were available.

    May 25, 2012

  • jn tps cmty meeting.tif TPS officials eye earlier start times

    A handful of Tahlequah Public Schools parents voiced concern Wednesday evening about a potential change in school start-and-stop times for the upcoming year.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Food for thought

    With representatives from the Oklahoma Farm & Food Alliance, Sustainable Green Country and Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Division in attendance, the Tahlequah Food Policy Council on Tuesday shared their ideas on establishing sustainable local food sources for retail ventures.

    May 24, 2012

  • Defense attorney: Witness changed his story

    The defense counsel for Bronson Butcher on Wednesday targeted eyewitness accounts of a man who claims he saw the accused shoot an Oktaha man at a Tahlequah home in March 2011.

    May 24, 2012

  • ra CancerCarnival.tif TMS Cancer Carnival raises funds

    The Tahlequah Middle School Student Council held its 6th Annual Student Council Cancer Carnival Wednesday to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

Poll

What do you plan to do over the Memorial Day weekend?

Go to Lake Tenkiller or Lake Fort Gibson.
Go to the Illinois River.
Attend ceremonies to honor veterans.
Spend time at home with family and/or friends.
Go out of town with family and/or friends.
A combination of the above.
None of the above.
     View Results
Press Sports Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
AP Video
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Stocks
Bedlam