By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 41-year-old man accused of speeding and narrowly missing other vehicles while attempting to elude Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Diego Gutierrez from Highway 51 and Jardot in Stillwater to the sidewalk in front of his home in Pawnee has been ordered to appear in court here on Dec. 17 with an attorney.
Hamid Shah Wahid of Pawnee, who was arrested at 1:48 am on Nov. 1, could be given as much as a five-year prison term and $5,000 fine if convicted of attempting to elude a law enforcement officer of Payne County. Wahid was held in the Payne County Jail until Nov. 7 when he was released on $10,000 bail, court records show.
Deputy Gutierrez alleged in an affidavit that on Nov. 1 he and Deputy Donato Lomboy were getting fuel at a gas station at Highway 51 and Jardot Rd. in Stillwater when “we both observed a small white four-door vehicle pass traveling eastbound on Hwy. 51 at a very high rate of speed.”
Leaving the gas station in an attempt to catch up, “Once I got a clear line of sight on the vehicle, I activated my forward-facing direction radar and received a radar-indicated speed of 91 mph as the vehicle passed Brushcreek Rd., which is a 45-mph posted zone,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“I continued following the vehicle as it passed Fairgrounds Rd. with my lights and siren activated. The vehicle failed to yield and continued driving eastbound on Hwy. 51 centered on both eastbound lanes at speeds reaching 105 mph,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
“As we approached the Glencoe city limits, the vehicle slowed down to approximately 70 mph and continued driving through town at this speed. During this time, I used my vehicle’s loudspeaker and issued commands to stop multiple times. All commands given were ignored.
“Deputy Lomboy caught up with me as we crossed through Glencoe, took over radio traffic for the pursuit, and asked for Pawnee County to be notified. Sgt. Ross caught up with us shortly after crossing into Pawnee County. Sgt. Ross passed us a short time later and set up a roadblock at the intersection of Hwy. 108 and Hwy. 64 using his patrol vehicle with emergency lights on.
“I observed Sgt. Ross signaling the vehicle to stop. The driver of the vehicle ignored the signals and continued past the roadblock turning eastbound on Hwy. 64 from Hwy. 108. As we approached Pawnee city limits, dispatch was notified to advise Pawnee police and ask if they had stop sticks to set up before entering Pawnee city limits. Pawnee police advised they did not have any.
“Sgt. Ross again passed us and got in front of the suspect vehicle slowing down to get him to stop. The driver of the vehicle began swerving in and out of the opposite lane trying to go around Sgt. Ross’ vehicle.
“At the intersection of Hwy. 64 and Pawnee Bill Rd., the suspect made a sharp turn and continued into Pawnee city limits at speeds greater than 80 mph. Once in Pawnee, the driver of the vehicle continued driving recklessly through city streets and an alleyway ignoring all traffic control devices.
“While driving southbound on 6th St. in Pawnee, the driver of the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve at the intersection of 6th St. and Ash St. The driver went into the ditch and high-centered his vehicle.
“The suspect vehicle regained traction, and the driver went into a home’s yard. Deputy Seaton, who had just arrived at the location, attempted to block the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle drove past Deputy Seaton and again recklessly led a pursuit through city streets. The driver ultimately drove to and came to a stop on the sidewalk in front of his home address,” Deputy Gutierrez alleged in his affidavit.
“After Hamid was handcuffed, Deputy Seaton and I got him to his feet. Hamid’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he was sweating profusely even though the temperature was approximately 40 degrees outside. Hamid stated he hadn’t consumed any alcohol and agreed to take the state’s breath test,” which was negative at the Pawnee Police Department, Deputy Gutierrez wrote in his affidavit.
“After receiving the breath test results and observing Hamid’s bloodshot watery eyes, extremely heavy sweating, very shaky body, and driving behaviors, I suspected, based on prior training, that he might be under the influence of a non-alcoholic intoxicant.
“On the way to SMC (for a blood test), Hamid began asking about the agencies involved in the pursuit…Hamid told me he had thought about stopping until he saw the officer at the roadblock aiming a gun. Hamid stated at that point he decided he’d make us chase him home where he preferred to be shot if it came to it,” the deputy alleged in his affidavit.
At the Stillwater Medical Center, “Hamid stated he had complied with the first test and would not take the state’s blood test,” the affidavit alleged.
