(Cushing, Okla.) - Sunday night just after 11:00 p.m., while in the Memorial Park, off-duty Cushing police officers Rachel Hentges, observed an unknown male sitting in a passenger car, as if he was waiting for someone. Believing the actions to be suspicious, Officer Hentges continued to observe the vehicle and its occupant. Officer Hentges later observed a gold Ford Explorer pull up next to the parked passenger car. Officer Hentges was able to identify the driver of the Ford Explorer as Eddie Matthew Wright, WM, 19. Due to past contacts with Wright, Officer Hentges knew that Wright did not have a valid Oklahoma Driver's License.
Officer Hentges then contacted Officer Matthew Piatt and advised him of her observations. Wright and the occupant of the passenger car then left in the Ford Explorer.
Once in the area, Officer Piatt observed a vehicle matching the one given to him by Officer Hentges. As Officer Piatt passed the vehicle, he was able to positively identify the driver as Eddie Wright. Officer Piatt then turned around on the vehicle in the 700 block of east Broadway Street. The vehicle was then turned onto the 100 block of north East Street, where it came to a sudden stop. Once stopped, both Wright and the passenger ran from the vehicle.
Officer Piatt then contacted the owner of Arley's Auto Sales, 1119 E. Main Street, in reference to the vehicle. Officer Piatt was later able to determine that the vehicle had been stolen from Arley's Auto Sales earlier in the evening.
After confirming the vehicle was stolen, Officer Piatt and MPO Sappington drove to the Memorial Park, to check on the passenger car that had previously described by Officer Hentges. When they arrived, Officer Piatt observed Wright and female hiding in the ditch next to the vehicle. Wright was subsequently placed under arrest on the complaints of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Operating a Motor Vehicle without a Valid Driver's License.
Wright was held in the Cushing jail overnight and then transported to the Payne County jail this morning.
"I want to commend the good police work done by Officer Hentges, Officer Piatt, and MPO Justin Sappington" Chief Terry Brannon said. "The good investigative work resulted in the recovery of a stolen vehicle and a solid arrest" Brannon said.
Citizens who may have information are encouraged to connect with police anonymously at www.CushingPD.com and click on "Crime Tip". Citizens can also connect with police by texting "Cushing" to 274637 (CRIMES) to send an anonymous crime tip by text message.
***
