McLoud Police Department To Raise Donations For Pottawatomie Co. Deputy Recovering After Being Shot 8 Times

It was another successful surgery Tuesday morning for a Pottawatomie County deputy who suffered at least eight gunshot wounds on Friday.

Garey Knoles is recovering at OU Medical Center.

The Pottawatomie County sheriff said Knoles' actions that day were nothing short of amazing.

Sheriff Michael Booth said of the eight times Knoles was shot, only two hit his bulletproof vest. He still crawled himself to safety to keep the other officers out of the line of fire.

"Even the deputy, when he was down, he was still relaying information as to what was going on at the scene which was remarkable," said Booth.

Knoles was shot by Braedon Chesser when he responded to a domestic disturbance call on Friday near Bethel Acres, law officers said. 

In order to get to safety, Knoles crawled more than 50 yards.

"His elbows were black and blue from that crawl. He did not want anybody coming after him, because he didn't want to put them in danger," Booth said. "Those officers were being shot at, had been shot at multiple times by the suspect as well."

Knoles had a second surgery Tuesday to remove another bullet from his body. Those close to Knoles told News 9 his left leg is broken and has a rod holding it together. 

Booth shared part of a text Knoles sent him while he continues to recover in the hospital:

"The rounds missed everything vital. Except my shin. I now have some internal hardware in my left leg. I appreciate everything everyone has done for me and my family. Prayers and wishes have done me good."

The McLoud Police Department plans to do more than send well wishes. On Saturday, the Lowes in Shawnee will host a burrito breakfast. People are invited to come get a free burrito, and the department will collect donations people want to give. 

"He's going to have a lot of expenses through this thing, and with the holidays coming on, we want to reach out to him and know that we care," said McLoud police Chief Wes Elliott. "In my own words, Deputy Knoles took them rounds for my and your family."

That money will go directly to the Knoles family. The breakfast will be from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6.

Click here for more information about McLoud Police Department's fundraiser.