A Missouri man was arrested following a high-speed pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies, which ended in McAlester.
Chase ends in McAlester
A Missouri man was arrested following a high-speed pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies, which ended in McAlester.
On March 19, Beggs Police Chief Brian Radford was attempting to stop a vehicle, when assistance was asked from the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office.
OCSO Chief Deputy Smokey Patchin learned of the pursuit which was southbound on Hwy. 75 approaching the Okmulgee City limits, and he, along with several other deputies joined in.
A Taser ECD was deployed near Box Ave. and Wood Drive in an attempt to stop the driver by one of the deputies.
According to the court record, Patchin observed the tan-colored Chevy truck driving recklessly near 8th and Wood Drive, failing to heed traffic signs and moving at a high rate of speed. Joining in the pursuit were members of the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse.
As Patchin attempted to pass the subject vehicle to set up a roadblock, the driver of the truck, identified as Andrew Dewayne Decker, 45, then swerved aggressively toward Patchin’s vehicle, attempting to hit him several times.
The subject then made a U-turn and drove back through Okmulgee, with speeds in excess of 60 mph at times.
Decker allegedly then headed south toward Henryetta, running several red lights and reaching speeds of more than 90 mph, while attempting to evade officers.
Upon arriving in Henryetta, Decker ran a roadblock set up by a HPD unit at Hwy. 75 and Main, and continued south on the turnpike.
Attempts to get the driver to stop failed along the turnpike. Upon reaching the McAlester exit, the suspect entered the roadway, failing to stop at the stop sign, and turned east headed into the city. McAlester police were able to deploy stop sticks, which deflated three of the tires on the suspect’s vehicle.
After pulling into a parking lot, Decker refused to exit the vehicle and was forcefully taken into custody.
Decker was transported back to Okmulgee County where he is being held on a $100,000 bond. Charges were filed Wednesday by District Attorney Carol Iski in CF-2023-43 for Endangering Others While Eluding Police Officer, Running a Roadblock, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
No date has been set for his initial appearance.
Decker is from Kennett, Mo.
