Man Accused Of Trying To Speed Away From OKC Sobriety Checkpoint

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma County deputies arrested a man accused of leading them on a high-speed chase in order to avoid a sobriety checkpoint.

Deputies were checking for alcohol-impaired drivers Saturday night in the 3900 block of S.W. 15th Street. They observed a man driving a gray Ford Escape make an illegal U-turn and drive away from the checkpoint.

A deputy pursued the vehicle and tried to pull over the driver, but the suspect refused to stop. The deputy chased the suspect at a high rate of speed for nearly ten minutes. The Sheriff's Office said the suspect finally stopped at S.W. 18th Street and Independence Avenue because there were so many deputies in the area working the sobriety checkpoint.

Deputies arrested 49-year-old Elmer Loyal of El Reno. Deputies said when they asked Loyal why he refused to stop, he told them he thought they had warrants out for his arrest. Deputies did not find any outstanding warrants, but they did discover Loyal was driving with a suspended license.

Loyal was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on complaints of attempting to elude an officer, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a stop sign.