Oklahoma City Man Charged for Damaging Critical Weather Radar System

A 39-year-old Oklahoma City resident has been formally charged following the recent vandalism of a weather radar system that plays a key role in public safety across the region.

Anthony Tyler Mitchell faces two felony counts: malicious injury or destruction of property and damaging equipment within a critical infrastructure facility. Additionally, he has been charged with a misdemeanor for unlawfully entering the property with the intent to commit a felony.

The incident occurred earlier this month and led to the temporary shutdown of a weather radar system used for monitoring and forecasting severe weather in Oklahoma City. The radar, which belongs to a local television station, is a crucial tool during tornado season and other hazardous weather events.

The case has gained further attention after a group known as Veterans on Patrol claimed responsibility for the act. The anti-government militia’s leader, Michael Lewis Arthur Meyer, has publicly expressed conspiracy theories suggesting that weather radars are weaponized tools used for military control of the environment.

Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond condemned the incident, emphasizing the importance of weather radar systems in safeguarding lives. In a public statement, he noted that this act of vandalism goes beyond property damage and poses a serious threat to public safety.

“Radar technology is vitally important and saves the lives of countless Oklahomans every year,” Drummond said. “This individual’s alleged action is not simply wrong; it imperiled public safety. My office is committed to protecting critical infrastructure and holding accountable anyone who willfully damages it.”

As the legal process moves forward, officials continue to stress the broader implications of disrupting emergency systems that communities depend on during severe weather threats.