[kiryandil]

In Oklahoma, the primary purpose of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is (surprise) patrolling roads and highways. Barricading flooded roads is one thing they do. Also, probably, these people's offence, Oklahoma Statute 47:11§11-103:

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic.

The cited code links to case law, if interested.

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Tough break that these two brothers didn't get the double-secret memo where the penalty for violation of this statute went from a misdemeanor & a $50 ticket to a capital offense, with no trial, and immediate execution of sentence...

[USNBandit]

I’ve never met a preacher that goes for the first punch on a cop. Must be one of them hardcore churches.

[OK Sun]

I wasn't there, but anyone who chooses to batter a patrolman turn a misdemeanor, or even a casual encounter, into a felony. An further, can expect to get shot.

And, I'll repeat, one of Oklahoma's Highway Patrol's jobs it to enforce safety. They can make you stop and turn around if there's a tornado expected to cross the highway; they can make you drive off the highway to clear the road for wrecks and emergency vehicles; and, yes, make you get off the highway.

And I wasn't there, but there are private citizens and emergency workers who drown every year trying to save people who find themselves in the water