September 7, 2017
By Paragon News Director Paul Joseph –
One suspect has been captured and seven other suspects are still currently being pursued in rural Beckham County following a chase that began in Wheeler County, Texas early this morning.
Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning has been warning residents in the area south of Interstate 40 for a distance of 4 to 5 miles, between Merritt Road and State Highway 6 to keep their doors and windows locked as well as any outbuildings. But there are indications some may have headed north of the Interstate.
Manning says law enforcement believe the 7 were all illegal immigrants paying the driver to bring them into that area. The man paid is being called the “coyote” and is among the missing. He’s reportedly wearing a red shirt, black pants, tennis shoes and a ball cap.
Manning says don’t confront any individuals, but if suspicious activity is observed, call law enforcement.
One suspect was captured at 20th and Pioneer and Manning says he believes that after their car stalled on the interstate, about half of the suspects may have ran north, the others south.
Merritt Schools were cleared by the Sheriff”s Department this morning, but the still missing seven suspects are still on the loose at news time. Elk City School Superintendent Rick Garrison says he remained in communication with the sheriff’s office and kept safety measures in place at all of the schools.
Wheeler County Sheriff’s Deputy Walden attempted to stop a 2002 Honda on highway 158 eastbound about 12:45 this morning. It failed to stop. It later took the Shamrock entrance onto I-40 heading toward Oklahoma at speeds exceeding 115 MPH.
After the chase entered Beckham County, Sheriff Manning intercepted the Honda by placing stop sticks on the interstate at Merritt Road. It punctured one of the tires on the vehicle and came to a stop after about a mile and a half – near the 36.5 mile marker – whereupon the suspects fled south perhaps east on foot.
The vehicle has been impounded and inventoried. Manning says deputies allegedly found narcotics and drug paraphernalia, but no weapons.
No information on the suspects has been released other than the fact that the vehicle has Arizona tags and a vehicle search provided information that the car has not been reported stolen. No weapons were found in the vehicle.
Manning says this afternoon, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has rejoined the search with a fixed wing airplane helping to scour the area for the suspects. Law enforcement is using a grid search pattern.
Troopers used an OHP helicopter during the night, but the foliage was too dense for the infrared equipment to spot the suspects.
Manning says the eight suspects had a sizable lead on deputies and headed for dense overgrowth along a creek and seemingly vanished.
The sheriff says if residents hear dogs barking and won’t stop or see a person walking in the search area that’s not recognized.
He says it’s possible that any one of the eight suspects may have had a cell phone and called someone to provide transportation.
Elk City Police and Fire personnel have additionally been involved in the search.
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