By Bob Melton County Editor

The Seminole Police Department successfully apprehended a suspect after joining a vehicle chase that originated in Hughes County and ended in Pottawatomie County.

A Seminole Police Department incident report states that on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at approximately 9:14 p.m. Lt. Jordan Bumgarner was advised by dispatch that the Holdenville Police Department was attempting to stop a white Chevrolet Cruze when the vehicle fled the scene. Lt Bumgarner and Corporal Kyle Wheeler responded, and each set up spike strips on Highway 270 on the east edge of Seminole city limits. When the suspect vehicle approached both sets of spike strips were deployed and the vehicle drove over them and continued west, turning north on Harvey Road.

The vehicle turned west on Wrangler Blvd. traveling in the east bound lane on three tires and a bare rim and continued on Highway 9, running multiple vehicles off the road as it drove through the town of Earlsboro with Lt. Bumgarner and Corporal Wheeler in pursuit.

Pottawatomie County was notified of the pursuit and Lt. Bumgarner was advised an Earlsboro officer was traveling south approaching the area and would likely run head on with the driver. The driver did attempt to ram the Earlsboro officer’s unit before continuing, turning north on Valleyview Road. The suspect slowed down in an attempt to get Lt. Bumgarner to strike the vehicle with his unit. After hitting the unit’s front bumper three times the vehicle pulled into the driveway of a residence, coming to rest in the front yard.

As he approached, Lt. Bumgarner observed there was only one occupant. When he attempted to open the driver-side door to extricate the driver the doors were locked, so he used a glass breaker tool on the front driver-side window and then reached in and unlocked the door. When the driver did not comply with verbal commands to exit the vehicle, Lt. Bumgarner reached inside and the suspect was then placed on the ground and fitted with hand restraints.

The incident report states the driver was identified as Missy Renee Harjo. It was discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen from Shawnee city limits, according to the report. While inventorying the vehicle, “pounds” of illegal marijuana in glass jars were located inside, the report states, as well as items consistent with the sale and distribution of narcotics.

At that time the case was taken over by the Holdenville Police Department.