(Cushing, Okla) – What started as a welfare check for a man on foot in Cushing this morning ended with the man being taken into custody after twice fleeing police.
Cushing Police Chief Terry Brannon says the incident began about 8:30 this morning, when police were notified of a man possibly suffering from heat exhaustion on foot on West Main street, near the former Hudson refinery site.
Officer Carson Watts was sent to the scene, and found the man, identified as 25 year old Devin Chitwood of Stillwater. Chitwood did appear to Watts to be suffering from the effects of the morning temperatures, and gave the man a bottle of water.
While Watts was running a warrant check, Chitwood fled, hopping the fence on the south side of SH33 onto the former Hudson refinery site. A three hour long search ensued, with officers from the Cushing Police Department, Payne County Sheriff’s Department, and Oklahoma Highway Patrol all searching through the high grass and outbuildings that remain on the site.
The search came up empty handed though, and was called off shorty before noon.
Police continued to patrol the area, believing that Chitwood hadn’t gotten far.
About 3:00 PM Tuesday, a citizen tip resulted in yet another pursuit through the downtown area.
According to a NIXLE release, Cushing police received a citizen tip that led police to the downtown area near the intersection of Moses and Noble Street.
When MPO Randy Evans and Officer Jerrod Livergood arrived, Chitwood began running from the officers. Detective Adam Harp joined the foot chase, capturing Chitwood behind Swanson’s Home Furnishing, which is located in the 300 blk E. Broadway Street.
Chitwood was arrested on the outstanding felony warrant issued by Pawnee County. Cushing police will be presenting a criminal case against Chitwood tomorrow.
“Citizen involvement proved to be invaluable again,” Chief Terry Brannon said. “The officers this morning did a very good job trying to find Chitwood even though he was not located, and the officers this afternoon did a good job of setting up a perimeter to help capture Chitwood,” Brannon said.
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