By: Patti Weaver
(Cushing, Okla.) — An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who, while in the state of Washington, threatened to come to Cushing with a loaded assault rifle to kill his wife, her family, and Cushing police officers, court documents allege.
Barry Christopher Hutton, 50, obtained an airlines travel itinerary in furtherance of the threat, according to allegations in the charge of threatening or planning a violent act.
Hutton’s estranged wife said that on June 14, “Barry called her and threatened that he was going to get an ‘AR-15’ and kill her family including herself, then take his own life,” Cushing Police Detective Jerrod Livergood alleged in an affidavit.
She said “this happened a few weeks ago as well and she was able to convince him to get mental health help in Tulsa,” the affidavit alleged.
She said “they have been separated since November 2020 and he hasn’t lived in Cushing since March of 2021 when he was released from the Payne County Jail where he was being charged with domestic violence,” the affidavit said.
She said “she is scared that he is going to hurt her or her family and specifically advised that she was in fear for her life. (She) reported that she has told him several times that she wants a divorce although he told her that it would not happen.
“Barry spoke to several officers at the Cushing Police Department on the telephone on June 14, 2021, and confirmed some of the threats,” the affidavit alleged.
“On a recorded line, Barry told Sgt. Matthew Piatt the following statements:
‘I’ve put something in there for protection (while talking about his pickup truck)’
‘I bought it for $700 with three extended clips’
‘I need help. I’m gonna make y’all kill me’
‘I’m gonna make y’all do it right in front of my wife’
‘Someone get me some help or I’m coming home and I’m gonna shoot myself right in front of y’all’
‘I’m telling you right now, I got an AR-15, three extended clips’
‘I’m at my wits end. I’m asking for help’
‘I ain’t scared of the cops, you bleed just like I do’
‘I wanna talk to my wife."”
Hutton’s estranged wife said “it is common for him to call her place of employment multiple times whenever she doesn’t answer his calls. (She) also showed me her phone that consisted of Barry calling her 13 times within a 42-minute time frame,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“During one of the recorded calls, Barry mentioned that he called her place of employment as well.
“(She) also provided a screenshot that Barry sent her on 6/14/2021 of a flight itinerary showing a flight from Boston, Massachusetts at 2:51 pm and landing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 8:10 pm. It appeared that he sent this itinerary to intimidate her into believing that he was purchasing tickets to come back home to carry out his threats.
“It should be noted that during my investigation, it was determined that Barry likely flew from Spokane, WA to Boston, MA before flying to Denver, CO and returning to Spokane, WA, all on 6/14/21,” the detective alleged in his affidavit for an arrest warrant filed on June 15.
According to court records, Hutton has been scheduled to have a jury trial on July 26 in Payne County District Court on misdemeanor counts of domestic assault and battery of his wife by pushing her and biting her on the arm; interfering with an emergency telephone call by taking his wife’s phone from her hand and leaving the area with it; and possession of methamphetamine, all on Nov. 25, 2020.
After Hutton was arrested in that case following a traffic stop at E. Cherry Street and S. Howerton Avenue, Cushing Police Officer David Smith alleged in an affidavit, “while in transit to the jail, I overheard Barry make a statement along the lines of ‘if she would’ve just shut up and listened!’
“Ultimately, upon arrival at the jail, we were able to get Barry into the mental health cell. Barry advised me if he would’ve still been at the residence, he would’ve gotten his shotgun and pointed it at police in order for us to shoot him.
“Barry also advised me he was at his wits end and had been struggling with mental health issues.”
At the Cushing City Jail, a dispatcher/jailer allegedly located a small baggy with a white powdery substance that field-tested as methamphetamine, the affidavit said.
If convicted of his misdemeanor counts in that Nov. 25, 2020, incident, Hutton could be given as much as three years in jail and fines totaling $9,000.
If convicted of threatening or planning a violent act on June 14, 2021, Hutton could be given as much as a 10-year prison term and a $10,000 fine.
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