(Cushing) – Cushing Police have arrested two men in connection with the alleged theft of a pickup truck from a local used car dealer. Cushing Police Chief Terry Brannon issued a press release detailing the events that led to the arrest.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cushing – On Monday, January 12, 2009, shortly after 12:58 a.m., Cushing police officer Matthew Piatt was on patrol when he noticed a portion of guardrail had been damaged at Ausbrooks Auto, 835 E. Main Street. Piatt had our communications center contact a representative from Ausbrooks Auto who came to the dealership, later discovering a white 2002 Chevrolet pickup valued at about $10,000.00 had been taken. The stolen pickup was entered into N.C.I.C., a national crime information center database, as stolen.
Earlier this morning, at about 3:29 a.m., Officer Piatt was on patrol in the 1300 blk E. Main Street, when he saw a pickup matching the description of the one taken from Ausbrooks traveling northbound on Linwood Avenue from Main Street. Officer Piatt got behind the pickup and confirmed its tag number, which was the same as the one stolen from Ausbrooks Auto.
Officer Piatt activated his emergency lights, attempting to get the pickup to stop, but it increased its speed, continuing northbound on Linwood Avenue. Officer Piatt pursued the pickup into the parking lot of Deep Rock Elementary School where the driver, Cushing resident Benjamin Andrew Littlesun, IM, 19 yoa, and passenger, Pawnee resident James Dillon Gonzales, IM, 21 yoa, were arrested by him and Officer Randy Evans without incident.
Littlesun was arrested on complaints of possession of a stolen automobile, driving without a valid driver’s license, and attempting to elude. Gonzales was arrested for possession of a stolen automobile and public drunk. Both men were taken to the Cushing jail.
Littlesun and Gonzales were both taken to the Payne County Sheriff’s Department this morning by Deputy Clyde Green. Littlesun and Gonzales are expected to appear in Payne County District Court this afternoon to be formally arraigned.
Chief Terry Brannon said, “I am very pleased with work done in this case by Officer Piatt and Officer Evans. Officer Piatt was very vigilant while performing his patrol duties early Monday morning. That same vigilance resulted in the arrest and recovery of the pickup earlier this morning. More importantly, Officer Piatt and Officer Evans were able to end this incident without injury to themselves or other persons and/or property, which is a credit to their training here at the department and police academy.”
