Suspects Wanted In SW OKC Robbery Ran Over Retired Firefighter

A 72-year-old retired firefighter is dragged and run over while out walking his dogs. The crime plays out on camera and the suspects are on the run.

Philo Gravitt, a retired 32-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Fire department saw a pick-up truck circle his block near Southwest 48th and McKinley multiple times.

He had no idea what was about to happen.

“There’s my two dogs!”

For the first time Philo and his wife JoAnn watched surveillance video captured by a neighbor's cameras across the street.

“He’s asking me how to get to 44^th and S. Santa Fe,” said Gravitt.

Sunday evening around 7:45 police said the thieves were busy.

Minutes before Philo was attacked, two men hopped out of a truck and tried stealing a compressor.

They were unsuccessful because it was chained. But, they along with a woman also in the truck spotted their next target.

“I was walking my dogs after church right there on that corner, and a pickup drove by,” said Gravitt.

Then moments later, the truck went into reverse.

“I was thinking he was lost,” said Gravitt.

One of suspects asked Philo for directions and gas money. He reached down, got his wallet, and handed them $2.

But they wanted more.

“Give me your billfold, I said no. He grabbed it with both hands and pulled me back in the truck with him,” said Gravitt.

A woman inside the truck grabbed the man who was holding on to Philo dragging him several feet.

“The back wheel caught my left leg,” said Gravitt.

“They didn’t know if they had left him for dead or not,” said JoAnn. “He couldn’t have gotten up because he could not walk that evening.”

“I get angry that somebody would do that to another human being. I was trying to help them, but they wanted to do me harm,” said Gravitt. “God has always taken care of me. I’m highly blessed to be here. I’ll be more careful next time. I will not be so trusting again.”  

Philo has several cuts and bruises on his leg but is doing okay. Meantime, Oklahoma City police are still looking for the three suspects and that truck.

7/30/15 Related Story: Police Seek 3 Suspects In Robbery In SW OKC Neighborhood