Charges filed in high-speed pursuit

A Shawnee man, who allegedly led authorities on a high-speed pursuit through Pottawatomie and Oklahoma counties Oct. 26, has been formally charged with two felonies and eight misdemeanor counts.  Christopher Jay Harrell, 22, is charged in Pottawatomie County District Court.
He is charged with the felony count of eluding a peace officer in a manner that endangers another. He is accused of driving a 2001 Honda motorcycle on Kickapoo Street between West 36th and West 45th Streets when he eluded Deputy Joe McGirt, who tried to conduct a traffic stop.
“The defendant endangered numerous other persons who were using the same roadway … by passing on the right side of the roadway at a high rate of speed, then moving into oncoming lanes of traffic after failing to stop at a red traffic light at the intersection of 45th and Kickapoo Street,” the charge alleges.

In a second felony count, Harrell is accused of running a roadblock at Pecan Grove Road and SH 102 as the pursuit continued.
He also is charged with one misdemeanor count of failure to stop at a stop light at Kickapoo and Kickapoo Spur, and then seven counts of failure to stop at stop signs, located at: Benedict and Leo, Kennedy and Kickapoo Spur, Broadway and Independence, Broadway and Federal, Broadway and MacArthur, Broadway and 36th Street and Kickapoo and West 36th Street, charges allege.
The pursuit continued for more than 30 minutes and ended in Oklahoma County where Harrell allegedly surrendered to state troopers without incident.

Harrell was jailed following the incident but has since posted bond. According to Pottawatomie County Court records, Harrell has been cited for numerous traffic violations in recent years, including reckless driving and speeding.  If convicted of the two felony counts in this case, he could face a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 in each count, and/or imprisonment for not less than one year or more than five years.  Each misdemeanor counts has varying punishments upon conviction, such as fines and imprisonment up to 10 days for each violation.

Man robbed, attacked, thrown in pond

Pottawatomie County sheriff’s deputies are looking for suspects who allegedly robbed a 52-year-old man, attacked him with a tire tool and left him for dead after throwing him into a pond somewhere northeast of Pink.  Sheriff’s Capt. Travis Palmer said deputies were called about 8 a.m. Friday morning when a passerby reported finding an injured man near Little River and Okay Roads.  The man, who had been assaulted, was wearing nothing but long johns. He had obvious wounds from the attack, Palmer said.  “He had been robbed of his money and they stole his pickup,” Palmer said. “He had been stripped of his overalls and boots.”  The Newalla man was hit in the back of the head with a tire tool during the attack, Palmer said. He was knocked unconscious until he awoke in the cold pond water.  “He was thrown in the pond and left for dead,” Palmer said. “When he came to, he was able to walk through a field and back to a road, where he got a passerby to stop.”  The man was transported to Unity Health Center, North Campus, where he was treated for his injuries and released. Deputies conducted interviews all day as part of the investigation. Friday afternoon, Palmer said authorities received an anonymous call that resulted in them finding the man’s pickup near Tribbey.  It was processed for evidence, Palmer said, with that evidence leading them to identify two possible suspects in the case. The investigation continues.  Deputy Scott Hawkins, along with Deputies Randy Willis, Shane Colley and Ken VanDuser worked the case.  Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Hawkins at 273-1727.

Wanette burglary solved, property returned

An overnight burglary at Wanette Tractor and Supply was solved within hours Wednesday after two suspects were arrested and the stolen property was recovered. Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Capt. Travis Palmer said the burglary was discovered upon opening the store Wednesday morning. The burglars pried open a door and took a laptop computer used by the business, Palmer said.  Deputy Scott Hawkins worked the case. Using evidence collected at the scene, Hawkins was able to identify two suspects and had both of them in custody by that afternoon, Palmer said. The computer also was recovered and returned to the business.  Arrested on complaints of burglary, second degree, were Jared Wilson, 19, and Brad Baxter, 20, Palmer said. Both remained jailed at the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center Friday, each held on $10,000 bond. Wilson also was held on a complaint of possession of stolen property, according to jail records. Palmer said Hawkins did a good job working the case, which will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office for consideration of any formal charges.

New developments in Saint Louis shooting

An investigation into a fatal shooting in Saint Louis Saturday evening is continuing as detectives conduct interviews and await firearm testing to prepare the case for review by the district attorney, who may have to determine if the case falls under the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law.
Timmy Jordan, 46, died as a result of the shooting. Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Investigator Mike Carnell said the shooting occurred in the Saint Louis area at 32290 Brangus Road, which is the residence of Ricky Wallgren Jr.
The investigation is still ongoing. Preliminary reports from the probe now indicate Wallgren was out in his yard when he saw a 4-wheeler occupied by Jordan and his 11-year-old son pull up to the gate of his residence, which had a large stop sign and a “no trespassing” sign, Carnell said.
Jordan and his son allegedly climbed the gate onto Wallgren’s property and walked about 155 feet up the driveway, Carnell said, with Jordan carrying a bag with a visible green leafy plant believed to be marijuana.
When Jordan confronted Wallgren, Carnell said Wallgren told Jordan to leave the property. Wallgren’s children were at home, but were told to go inside the house, he said.
During the confrontation, Carnell said it appears Jordan reached into the bag he was carrying and pulled out a .380 caliber pistol. A short scuffle over the gun ensued, resulting in Wallgren getting the weapon away from Jordan, the detective said.
When Jordan allegedly went after Wallgren, Carnell said the homeowner reportedly fired the pistol twice, hitting Jordan in the head. Jordan died at the scene.
Authorities are conducting interviews and following all leads in probing this case. Carnell said while the men were acquainted, the incident may have had something to do with a previous assault involving Jordan and a member of Wallgren’s family.
Sheriff’s investigators have sent the pistol to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for trace-testing and for fingerprint tests on the gun, the magazine and the bullets, Carnell said.
Because a homicide involves the death of a person at the hands of another, this case is being investigated as a homicide, officers said.
Wallgren has not been arrested in connection with the shooting, Carnell said, because this case could possibly fall under the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law. That laws specifies that people can use deadly force if they believe they are in danger in any place where they have a legal right to be. That same law also prevents authorities from arresting persons in these types of circumstances, Carnell said, so Wallgren was questioned about the incident, then released.
It will be up to the district attorney’s office to determine whether this shooting falls under the “Stand Your Ground” law, and whether any charges will be filed.
Sheriff Mike Booth said they are being proactive and following all evidence in this investigation.
“We’ll collect as much evidence as we can and submit it to the district attorney’s office,” Booth said.
Jordan was a lifelong Saint Louis resident. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday in Konawa. Watch for further updates as they become available.