Wilson, Oklahoma police officers Brandon Dingman and Joshua Taylor were convicted of second-degree murder after the July 4, 2019 encounter that left 28-year-old Jared Lakey hospitalized and later dead. The case is one of the clearest examples of a police use-of-force encounter turning into a criminal conviction: prosecutors said the officers used police-issued stun guns again and again while Lakey was on the ground, and a jury later found them guilty.
This story is based on multiple sources, including ABC News, Associated Press reporting republished by CityNews, KXII sentencing coverage, and later KXII civil-verdict coverage. It is not based on a single source.
Incident Reports
According to ABC News, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Wilson Police Department officers Joshua Taylor and Brandon Dingman responded around midnight on July 4, 2019, to a call involving Jared Lakey allegedly acting in a disorderly way. ABC reported that OSBI said Lakey did not comply with officer commands, and both officers used their police-issued stun guns multiple times until backup from the Carter County Sheriff’s Office arrived.
ABC News reported that a backup officer later used a neck restraint while assisting with getting Lakey into custody. OSBI said Lakey stopped breathing, became unresponsive, began breathing again, and was taken to a hospital. Lakey died two days later.
KXII later reported that Dingman and Taylor tased Lakey 53 times over about four minutes while trying to restrain him. KXII also reported that body-camera footage was a major factor in the criminal case and that Lakey could be heard shouting in pain as stun guns were repeatedly used.
Allegations
At the charging stage, Dingman and Taylor were accused of using stun guns on Lakey more than 50 times. Associated Press reporting said court documents alleged the stun-gun use was a substantial factor in Lakey’s death. ABC News also reported that the probable cause of death was described as involving complications of a heart attack in the setting of preexisting heart conditions and law-enforcement use of an electrical weapon and restraint.
A civil lawsuit filed by Lakey’s family included broader allegations about the conduct of multiple responding officers and entities. Those civil allegations should be treated separately from the criminal convictions unless and until a court or jury specifically resolved them.
Charges
ABC News reported that the OSBI submitted its investigative findings to District Attorney Craig Ladd’s office, and that warrants were issued for Dingman and Taylor in 2020. The officers were charged with second-degree murder in connection with Lakey’s death.
Associated Press reporting later stated that a Carter County jury convicted former Wilson police officers Brandon Dingman and Joshua Taylor of second-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Convictions and Sentences
KXII reported that Dingman and Taylor were found guilty of second-degree murder and that the jury recommended 10-year sentences. At sentencing, District Attorney Craig Ladd said the judge ordered both men to serve 10 years in the Department of Corrections.
KXII also reported that both men would be required to serve 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole.
Lawsuits and Civil Verdict
Associated Press reporting said Lakey’s family filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Wilson, the two officers, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and one of its deputies, and the City of Lone Grove and one of its officers who responded to the call.
In 2025, KXII reported that a federal jury awarded Lakey’s family $10 million in the civil case, with the award to be paid by the officers responsible for his death. KXII reported that the civil case also focused on the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, but that the sheriff’s office was cleared as a result of the verdict. The Ardmoreite similarly reported that the federal jury found the Carter County Sheriff in his official capacity was not responsible and that Dingman and Taylor would have to split a $10 million payment to the estate.
Official Statements and Responses
ABC News reported that OSBI said Taylor and Dingman used their police-issued stun guns when Lakey would not comply with commands. ABC also reported that defense attorney Ryan Hunnicut told The New York Times that Lakey’s death saddened everyone and that the legal system would provide an opportunity for all facts to be known.
At sentencing, KXII quoted District Attorney Craig Ladd saying the verdicts were supported by the evidence. The same report quoted Lakey’s mother, Cindy Lakey, saying she was thankful the case had reached that day.
Uncorroborated Claims
This story does not rely on unverified social-media claims or unsupported rumors. The core facts above are drawn from news reports, court-document descriptions, OSBI statements as reported by news outlets, criminal-conviction reporting, sentencing coverage, and later civil-verdict reporting.
Why This Belongs on FuckedCops.com
Dingman and Taylor were not merely accused of misconduct and quietly moved along. They were convicted of second-degree murder after an encounter in which Jared Lakey was tased dozens of times, hospitalized, and died two days later. For a police accountability site, this case stands out because the criminal court system reached the conclusion that the force used by these officers crossed the line into murder.
