Andy Dossett | The Wiley Post
Oct. 29 2026
Bartlesville City Council Ward 4 candidate Joel Rabin acknowledged displaying a handgun during a Sept. 28 neighborhood confrontation, according to newly obtained 911 recordings and deputy body-camera footage.
The recordings reveal conflicting allegations of threats, while deputies questioned Rabin about repeatedly monitoring the neighbor's property and displaying a firearm during the dispute.
Timothy Caruthers told dispatchers Rabin pointed a handgun at him and threatened to shoot him. Rabin denied pointing the weapon but acknowledged holding it up after Caruthers shined a bright light toward him.
Bartlesville City Council Ward 4 candidate Joel Rabin demonstrates to Washington County sheriff's deputies how he displayed his 9 mm handgun during a Sept. 28 confrontation with Timothy Caruthers. The image is a screenshot from deputy body-camera footage.
Deputies questioned Rabin about repeatedly parking near Caruthers' property, shining lights toward it and taking what he described as a "safety patrol" role.
"It's not your job to sit and police it," one deputy told him.
Neither man was arrested. The Washington County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the incident, and no charges have been filed in connection with the confrontation.
Conflicting 911 calls describe threats and fear
Caruthers called 911 on Sept. 28, reporting that Rabin was across the street from his property with a handgun.
"I got a guy across the street. His name's Joel, and he just flipped a nine millimeter and he's threatening to shoot me," Caruthers told dispatch.
Throughout the call, Caruthers repeatedly urged deputies to hurry, saying he feared for his safety.
"I'm scared," he told the dispatcher, explaining that he was hiding behind a boat for protection.
About two minutes and 24 seconds after Caruthers' call began, Rabin called 911 with his own allegation of a threat.
"I was just threatened by someone across the street that I better leave or else," Rabin told dispatch.
Rabin later described the statement as "You better leave here, you're surrounded, quote unquote.”
During Caruthers' 911 call, he can be heard shouting, "You're surrounded," before immediately telling dispatch that Rabin was not surrounded. The reviewed portion of the recording does not establish that Caruthers also said "or else," as Rabin alleged.
Rabin acknowledges displaying handgun during "safety patrol"
Body-camera footage shows Rabin parked across the street from Caruthers' property, where a fire was burning.
Rabin told deputies he did not live in the neighborhood but was there with permission from nearby property owner Jackie Stokes, conducting what he called a "safety patrol." He acknowledged returning to the location for weeks and shining his vehicle's lights toward Caruthers' property.
Rabin described Caruthers as "a nut" and accused him of burning toxic materials.
"That's containing poisonous stuff," Rabin told deputies, referencing what he described as an ongoing Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality case involving Caruthers and a $10,000 fine.
Deputies discussing the fire said Caruthers was generally permitted to burn materials on his property, subject to applicable restrictions.
Rabin said the confrontation escalated when Caruthers shined a high-intensity light toward him as he attempted to photograph the fire.
In response, Rabin said he shined a flashlight at Caruthers.
“I did that (indicated, pointing his flashlight at Caruthers), and I point I'll tell you, I held up my nine mil and said, 'I'm holding a nine-millimeter semi-auto. Cut it out,'" Rabin told deputies.
Caruthers disputed Rabin's account, telling deputies the candidate pointed the handgun directly at him.
Rabin maintained that he never pointed the weapon at Caruthers.
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Become a subscriber"I believe I would not have been permitted to leave 'the scene' if they actually believed I had pointed a gun at him. BTW, I didn't," Rabin said in a statement responding to questions about the incident.
Rabin also told dispatchers he had three firearms in his vehicle: the handgun he was holding during the call, another pistol and a shotgun.
He told dispatchers he would place the handgun in his vehicle when deputies arrived. Upon their arrival, Rabin informed deputies about the firearms.
Body-camera footage shows deputies approaching Rabin without drawing their weapons or immediately searching him. Deputies spoke with Rabin about the confrontation and the firearms before he consented to a search of his vehicle, during which they secured the weapons.
Deputies did not seize the firearms as evidence. Rabin was allowed to leave with his weapons and was not arrested.
Deputies question repeated surveillance and display of firearm
Deputies questioned Rabin about repeatedly parking near Caruthers' property and shining lights toward it.
One deputy said he had personally observed Rabin's white vehicle at the location over several weeks.
Officers discussed whether Rabin's repeated activity could constitute harassment and whether displaying the handgun could amount to brandishing or assault with a dangerous weapon.
"I may have been brandishing something," Rabin told deputies, while maintaining that he acted because he felt threatened.
Deputies collected written statements from both men and discussed referring the evidence to prosecutors.
Environmental dispute generates separate court cases
The confrontation occurred amid an ongoing environmental enforcement dispute involving Caruthers.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality filed a civil lawsuit Aug. 6 against Tim Caruthers and Joseph Caruthers, doing business as Kosher Construction, in Oklahoma County District Court.
On Sept. 29, one day after the confrontation, DEQ requested a default judgment, alleging the defendants had failed to respond to the lawsuit. The agency sought enforcement of an administrative compliance order and a $10,000 penalty.
Court records show an additional notice of the motion was served Oct. 6. The judge has not granted the motion, and the civil case remains pending.
On Sept. 29, prosecutors also filed separate misdemeanor charges against Tim Caruthers in Washington County for creating a public nuisance and dumping trash near a highway.
Caruthers pleaded not guilty. That case also remains pending.
Although both filings occurred the day after the confrontation, available records do not establish that the incident prompted either action.
Caruthers sought a protective order against Rabin on Sept. 30, but the case was later dismissed without prejudice.
According to the court record, Rabin had not been served. Caruthers requested a hearing more than a month later, but the judge declined to delay proceedings that long. Caruthers could not attend within the timeframe offered by the court, resulting in dismissal.
The court made no final determination on the allegations.
District attorney reviewing evidence
The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed it forwarded incident reports and evidence to the Washington County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors confirmed receiving the materials and said the case remains under review.
No criminal charges have been filed against either man in connection with the Sept. 28 confrontation.
The full 911 recordings and deputies' body-camera footage are available below, allowing viewers to hear both men's accounts and deputies' statements.
Viewer discretion advised: The body-camera footage contains strong language.
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