Suspect's vehicle after crashing into Sheriff Larry Lane's patrol unit.
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - A Connecticut man was arrested Monday, January 24 after leading several county law enforcement officers on a high speed pursuit and ultimately crashing head-on into the patrol unit of Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane.
According to Sheriff Lane the initial pursuit began at 3:30 p.m. when Deputy Colton Goff attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding in a construction zone. When Deputy Goff activated his lights, the suspect accelerated to speeds of well over 100 miles per hour. While still in the construction zone, the suspect began passing cars on the shoulder and "almost caused several vehicles to wreck, putting several people’s lives in danger."
"The suspect continued driving at such high speeds and endangering people that Deputy Goff decided to back off," Lane said.
A short time later, a Gore police officer observed the suspect's vehicle driving eastbound on a county road, heading toward Vian. Sheriff Lane said that deputies were concerned the suspect would try to go toward and through the Town of Vian where school had just let out for the day. A roadblock was set up at the T-intersection, south of Vian, in order to prevent the suspect from driving into the heavily populated area.
"The roadblock worked and the suspect fled past them and went into the Sequoyah Refuge," Sheriff Lane stated. "Two of the deputies and one Gore PD officer continued the pursuit on the gravel road, while other deputies set up stop sticks at the refuge gate. Due to the extremely heavy dust cloud from the suspect, the deputies had to drop back a good distance for visibility."
Sheriff Lane drove into the refuge and set up an observation point at the main four-way intersection in the refuge, in order to watch for the suspect and inform the officers of his location and direction he was heading. When the suspect approached Sheriff Lane’s location, he swerved toward Lane’s patrol unit and lost control. His vehicle then crashed into Sheriff Lane’s truck and came to rest in the ditch.
The driver was then taken into custody by Gore officer Colt Oliver and Deputies Jeff Neighbors and Daniel Whitus.
The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Brent Jamar Morrow of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Morrow was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail on charges of felony eluding, assault with deadly weapon, destruction of property, and speeding in a construction zone. His bond was set at $8,500.
Damage to the front of Sheriff Lane's vehicle.
Both vehicles were inoperable and had to be towed.
"I'm a little sore but not hurt too bad," Sheriff Lane said. “I’m just thankful that we were able to stop him before he got into Vian. While there was so many kids leaving school, the way he was driving, that could have been a really bad deal.”
KXMX News Staff
For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com
Comments