Fugitive Squad turns to Bike Unit
for Assistance
by Russell Boatman
Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office
On Tuesday, August 10, 2004, I was
approached by our Fugitive Squad supervisor, Corporal Larry Grant, in reference
to assistance with apprehending a specific fugitive. This particular fugitive
was being sought on warrants for felony stalking and some miscellaneous
misdemeanor charges. There was also some interest in the subject by the Oklahoma
City Fire Marshal's office with regard to a few arson attempts. This subject's
history was not clean by any means. It was an assorted list of obstruction,
assault with dangerous weapon, pointing a firearm at another individual,
and a few other violent charges. So, we had our work cut out for us. One
big reason for making this subject a priority was the traps that he set around
his house. The devices were made of three-inch nails driven through pieces
of plywood and discreetly buried around his house. Unfortunately, one of
the members of our Fugitive Squad found one such device under a window outside
of the subject's bedroom and was injured.
The Fugitive Squad came to the Bike Team for help because this particular
subject had eluded them on a BMX-style bike during a previous service attempt.
As all officers who ride know, the car is really no match for the experienced
cyclist. Therefore, the Bike Team was dispatched with the Fugitive Squad
in an undercover mode. [By the way, I was glad I attended the class at the
conference taught by SAPD officer Steve Bazany, which helped in the planning
and execution of our operation!] The team was dressed in plain clothes, bikes
were made to be less conspicuous, and we were ready. We began with parallel
patrols of the neighborhood in which he was known to reside with his mother.
After surveying the area and assessing possible escape routes, the bike team
joined the surveillance on his mother's residence. Three teams were posted
in three different locations around the house. Team One was positioned in
back of the house, just beyond the far side of the alley. This position offered
a perfect view of the rear of the residence, yard, and alley approach from
each direction without compromising the officers. Team Two was placed across
the street from the residence on the side of a vacant house, which provided
an excellent view of the front while maintaining concealment. Team Three
was comprised of me and another team member set up two doors down from the
target house, on the same side of the street. In addition, there was a UC
narcotics deputy in an UC car covering the opposite side of the residence.
At approximately 2145 hours, a white male approached from the alley within
20 feet of Team One bike members, and entered the rear of the residence.
At this time we notified Cpl. Grant; shortly thereafter, the Fugitive Squad
arrived with two K-9 units to search the house. The subject was apprehended
without incident and the Bike Team was commended for the job well done. The
dedication to helping bring the fugitive to justice was commended by the
Fugitive Squad leader and our Sheriff, John Whetsel.
The bike team is comprised of Team Leader Dep. Russell Boatman, Asst. Team
Leader Dep. Bob Camp, Jason Barber, John Aylor, Tony Reynolds, and Don Carr.
Russell can be reached at
sorusboa@oklahomacounty.org.
© 2004 IPMBA. This article appeared in the Fall 2004 issue of
IPMBA News. |
