By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — Authorities are searching for two Cushing men who allegedly surrendered to police a black duffle bag filled to the top with opened and assorted mail from 15 different mailboxes in Cushing, according to affidavits for their arrest issued on July 26.
Printiss Skylar Romine, 23, and Casey Edward McAlister, 25, could each be given as much as a 75-year prison term plus a $75,000 fine if apprehended and convicted of 15 counts of larceny of mail from throughout Cushing.
Cushing Police Officer Christopher Haywood was sent at 9:22 am on Oct. 28, 2023, to a house in the 700 block of E. Walnut regarding the theft of mail from a mailbox next to the curb, according to his affidavit.
The resident “explained that he had been reviewing his camera footage, as one of his cameras points at his mailbox, which faces the street, just next to the curb of E. Walnut Street.
“While reviewing camera footage, (he) said he observed two subjects walking westbound down the road. (He) explained that he was waiting for documents relating to his mortgage and was concerned whoever stole the package now had access to sensitive information,” the affidavit said.
In the video, one suspect walked in front of the mailbox, opened it, and continued walking while a second suspect examined the mailbox and removed the contents from inside, the affidavit alleged. Both suspects in dark clothing continued walking west, the affidavit alleged.
The video stamp showed 2:09 am, but it was inaccurate — with the correct time 1:09 am, the affidavit alleged.
“I requested Officer Beal review camera footage at the Maveric after 1:09 am,” Officer Haywood alleged in his affidavit.
Cushing Police Officer Jason Beal discovered that two suspects matching the description in the video had walked into the Maveric at 609 E. Main at about 1:10 am, the affidavit alleged. The suspects were identified as Printiss Romine and Casey McAlister, the affidavit alleged.
Officer Beal had learned where McAlister was employed and contacted his manager, who said he was not working that day, but had his contact phone number, the affidavit alleged.
“I dialed the number with my department-issued phone. A male answered the phone, and I asked if who I was talking to was Casey. The male said he was not Casey and that he was Printiss. I identified myself to Printiss and explained that I needed to talk to him as well.
“I explained to Printiss that I needed to speak with them in person and that if they met with me, I would not take them to jail today for the mail they had stolen. I further explained to Printiss that he and Casey needed to present and return all the mail taken.
“Printiss asked if I could meet them near the Timber Ridge Apartments. I advised them I could meet them at the bridge, just north of the Timber Ridge Apartments. Printiss said they would come.
“At about 11:30 am, I met with Casey McAlister and Printiss Romine at the bridge just north of 306 S. Timber Ridge Drive. There, Romine surrendered a black duffle bag, which was filled to the top with opened and assorted mail from throughout the city of Cushing.
“I asked both subjects why they had taken people’s mail. Both said they didn’t know,” Officer Haywood alleged in his affidavit.
According to Lincoln County court records, Romine is also being sought by authorities for failing to appear in court on July 18 on a burglary case in which he was charged with two co-defendants of breaking into a rural Cushing man’s house on May 1 in Lincoln County where multiple guns were stolen.
His co-defendants, Cameron Tyce Wedin, 23, of Oilton, and Tommy Nathaniel Tilley, 20, of rural Cushing, both pleaded guilty on June 25 to second-degree burglary for which they were each given seven-year prison terms, with the balance to be suspended on their completion of the Regimented Inmate Discipline (RID) prison boot camp program, Lincoln County court records show.
