Man Leads Oklahoma City Officers On High-Speed Pursuit In Stolen Truck

A man police said was driving a stolen truck allegedly attempted to outrun Oklahoma City officers overnight. 

The high-speed chase with 43-year-old Merle Songer came to an end at a gas station on the southeast side of the city.

According to court records, Songer has been involved in pursuits with law enforcement before and Thursday was not the first time the felon has been accused of driving a stolen vehicle.

An officer first spotted Songer and a female passenger parked at a 7-Eleven store just after midnight near Southwest 44th Street and May Avenue. 

The officer noted in the report that the suspect quickly drove away when he saw the patrol car. Songer reportedly drove onto Interstate 44 and then exited onto Southwest 15th Street, only to drive back onto the highway. The officer attempted to pull Songer over for erratic driving.

“The vehicle failed to stop for the officer and had initiated a pursuit at that time,” Sgt. Dillon Quirk with the Oklahoma City Police Department said. “At some point speeds fluctuated between 80 and 95 miles per hour. Again, a majority of this was on the highway. So, officers were trying to catch up to that driver.”

Police said the traffic was light, but Songer weaved around other vehicles coming dangerously close at times.

“Thankfully, no one was injured,” Quirk said. “No crashes were involved.”

Just as an officer was about to end the chase, police said Songer slowed down, turned off the highway and pulled into a Love's gas station near Interstate 35 and Southeast 89th Street.

The chase ended with Songer in handcuffs and sent off to the Oklahoma County Detention Center on several criminal complaints.

Police confirmed the truck Songer was driving was reported stolen out of Norman. His female passenger was not arrested.