Police Pursuit With Stolen RV Ends In NW OKC Drainage Ditch

A pursuit with a stolen RV ended in a crash on Thursday in Northwest Oklahoma City. The suspect drove the RV off-road through a park and took a nosedive into a drainage ditch.

The concrete ditch Cole Hopper, 32, crashed into was in Smitty Park near I-44 and Pennsylvania Avenue. Police said Hopper stole the RV and had crack cocaine and Fentanyl when he was arrested.

“This is something that is kind of new to us or unusual for us,” said Msgt. Gary Knight, Oklahoma City Police Department.

A slow-speed pursuit with the RV came to a crashing end Thursday morning.

“It’s unclear exactly what this person’s plans were to do with the motorhome, but it was stolen,” said Knight.

The vehicle was reportedly stolen from Camping World on the Broadway Extension. An officer spotted the motorhome near I-44 and May Avenue.

“When they tried to pull it over the motorhome fled,” said Knight.

Officers followed the RV on neighborhood streets. Police said Hopper went off-road into Smitty Park, through a fence, and took a nosedive into a concrete ditch. 

“That obviously disabled the vehicle,” said Knight. “The driver got out and fled on foot, he was apprehended a short time later.”

Police described Hopper as a career criminal. He served a prison sentence for manslaughter and racked up possession of contraband charges while in prison. Hopper has recent arrests and charges for drug possession in McClain and Cleveland Counties.

Following the pursuit, Hopper was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center jail on charges of a stolen motor vehicle, eluding police, possession of drugs, and trafficking drugs. His bond was set at $37,500.