A modern-day version of the TV police team Starsky and Hutch recently nabbed a suspect running from lawmen.
A drone owned by Eufaula police spotted the suspect running down a knee-deep creek and a K-9 officer with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol chased him down and caught him by the leg, holding on until a utility vehicle loaded with officers arrived moments later.
Brian Walker, 51, Porum, has been charged with endangering others while eluding/ attempting to elude police officers; mistreating/assaulting law enforcement animals while committing crimes; malicious injury to property under $1,000 and resisting an officer.
Associate District Judge Brendon Bridges entered a plea of not guilty on Walker’s behalf and set bond at $15,000.
The suspect was ordered back to court at 9 a.m., Dec. 4, for a pre-preliminary conference.
The charges were filed in McIntosh County District Court on Nov. 8, two days after Walker was arrested in a remote area of the county near New Texanna Road and the Muskogee County line.
The suspect reportedly was driving a red Dodge pickup, being pursued by a Muskogee County deputy when the chase ended up in McIntosh County where Deputy Sheriff Matt Youngblood joined the pursuit on New Texanna Road. Walker was wanted on several felony warrants.
In a probable cause affidavit, Youngblood said several other lawmen joined the chase, including McIntosh County investigators Zachary Todd and Gregory Pelley; OHP Troopers Josh Blake and Nolan Philpot; DA investigator Kevin Branscum and members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse K9s.
The suspect left the roadway, crashed through a gate and fences and eventually abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.
Several officers got into a utility vehicle driven by Trooper Philpot.
The Creek Nation K9 were released to aid in tracking the suspect.
A Eufaula Police Department drone unit informed officers that the suspect was wading in water in a stream east of their location.
Youngblood said he heard Trooper Blake order Walker to stop, and the suspect refused.
“Blake then deploys his K9 and Brian was bitten in the left thigh,” said Youngblood. “I then observed Brian grab Trooper Blake’s dog by his neck in an attempt to interfere with the dog in its duties. I immediately started to give him verbal commands to stop fighting the dog. I then entered the water and went hands-on with Brian because I thought he was going to hurt the dog.”
The suspect continued to resist arrest until he was restrained.
Deputy Christian Degrafenreid transported Brian to the Henryetta Hospital to evaluate his injuries.
