Oklahoma City Police Investigate Bounty Hunters Following Shootout

A shootout and standoff leads to the investigation of a group of Bounty Hunters.

Tuesday, October 28th 2014, 9:51 pm

By: News 9


A shootout and standoff leads to the investigation of a group of Bounty Hunters.

The scary scene unfolded Tuesday near SW 29th St. and Shawnee. The suspect is in custody, but police say the Bounty Hunters are in the wrong.

Anthony Bruce, 33, sits in the Oklahoma County Jail on a number of charges. Gunfire was exchanged between Bruce and three Bounty Hunters. Oklahoma City police want to know why the three men didn't notify them before approaching the suspect's home.

A new law passed last November requires Bounty Hunters to be licensed through CLEET. Before then though, anyone, even felons, could call themselves a Bounty Hunter.

“Woke up to gunshots coming through my house,” said William Sneed. “There's like a bullet hole through the hallway.”

“We're investigating the legitimacy of them being bail bondsmen,” said OCPD Capt. Dexter Nelson.

10/28/2014 Related Story: Bounty Hunters Questioned After Shootout With Suspects Leads To Standoff

According to Oklahoma City police, the three men, who say they were Bounty Hunters, were trying to serve a warrant for Bruce when shots were exchanged both in front of and behind the home. One of the stray bullets hit Sneed's home.

“Yeah, we're very lucky. Now that I look at it we're very lucky,” said Sneed.

“I'm sure that the fugitive was looking at a lot of prison time and was probably willing to do almost anything to get away, and that's when they get dangerous,” said OKC bail bondman, Ken Boyer.

Boyer has been dealing with Bounty Hunters for nearly 40 years.

“It's a very difficult and dangerous job,” said Boyer.

Boyer says there was a point when the law allowed Bounty Hunters to do a lot more on the job when it comes to tracking down criminals who have jumped bail.

“There's just a few small incidents, very rare incidents that make a lot of noise, and therefore have caused us to have to put some legislation in effect where they have to be licensed,” said Boyer.

Boyer calls Tuesday's shootout between the fugitive and the alleged Bounty Hunters extremely rare.

“Our job is to make sure they're held accountable in court, whether they like it or not. You don't want to take a chance on anyone getting hurt,” said Boyer.

“It was kind of scary,” said Sneed.

The alleged Bounty Hunters were also taken in for questioning. Anthony Bruce is now being held without bond.

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