Pawnee man accused of endangering others while eluding Yale police

  STILLWATER — A Pawnee man has been charged with possessing three guns while on felony probation and endangering others by driving into oncoming traffic while at times reaching speeds of more than 100 mph in an attempt to elude Yale Police Officer Rory Rice before crashing at Highway 412 and 108 near Glencoe.

   MJ Childs, 20, was ordered held in the Payne County Jail on $25,000 bond pending his arraignment this week on charges punishable by up to 18 years and four months’ incarceration on conviction, court records show. In addition to illegal gun possession and endangering others, Childs was charged with reckless driving and not having a valid driver’s license.

   The Yale officer alleged in his affidavit that at one point in the pursuit, which began at 8:12 pm on June 21 with an attempted traffic stop, “I maneuvered my patrol unit ahead of the suspect vehicle in an attempt to slow and contain the pursuit with the assistance of a deputy unit behind the suspect.

   “During this maneuver, Mr. Childs intentionally drove toward my patrol vehicle and attempted to force my unit into oncoming traffic and off Highway 108. During the pursuit, a black backpack was observed being thrown from the suspect vehicle and was found by Payne County deputies and a Glencoe homeowner.

   “At 8:26 pm, the pursuit ended near the intersection of Highway 108 and the Cimarron Turnpike (Highway 412). Both the driver and the passenger drove down the highway shoulder and came to a stop, then exited the vehicle and fled on foot east of Highway 108. I then drew my duty firearm and gave verbal commands for the suspects to show me their hands and to stop running. I then lost sight of both suspects.

   “Moments later, multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the search for the suspects. Several hours later (at 11:24 pm), with the assistance of two unmanned aerial drone units and a K-9 team, the driver, identified as MJ Childs, was located and taken into custody. The passenger remains at large at the time of this report.

   “The backpack was later recovered and contained a bag of leafy green substance consistent with the odor and appearance of marijuana, along with several firearms seized by the Payne County Sheriff’s Office. Upon taking Mr. Childs into custody, I observed that his left knee was bleeding as a result of K-9 apprehension.

   “LifeNet Ambulance and the Glencoe Fire Department responded to the scene and provided medical treatment. Mr. Childs was medically cleared for incarceration and transported to the Payne County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.”

   Childs had been placed on three years’ probation under a deferred sentence on June 20, 2025, for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Pawnee on July 18, 2024, court records show. Childs had been ordered to continue counseling, have a substance abuse evaluation and follow all recommendations, Pawnee County court records show.