Crime-fighting technology leads to two arrests in Guthrie
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR) - Two people were arrested after leading Guthrie police officers on a dangerously high-speed chase in a stolen car. The suspects were caught thanks to crime-fighting technology the department started using about a year ago.
At times, the pursuit reached speeds of 125 miles per hour, according to court records.
“It's highly fortunate for the driver and for the passenger that they’re alive today,” said Sgt. Anthony Gibbs with the Guthrie Police Department. “At that rate, it doesn’t happen very often where someone ends up walking away.”
According to Sgt. Gibbs, around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, the police department’s flock camera system alerted them about a stolen car from Texas.
"It reads the license plates and then lets us know certain things. In this case, a stolen vehicle,” said Sgt. Gibbs. “They still have to go out and find the vehicle and then observe and then run that tag."
A few hours later, an officer pulled the car driven by 18-year-old Jazzmyne Saunders-Walker over. However, she soon took off and the pursuit began.
"Speeds were over 120 miles an hour,” said Sgt. Gibbs.
Saunders-Walker led police from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. Dash camera video shows the car crashing after trying to maneuver around other cars on Lake Hefner Parkway, near Memorial.
Both Saunders-Walker and her passenger, 30-year-old Eddie Bryant were arrested. Court records show marijuana was also found in the car.
Sgt. Gibbs told KFOR they’re charged with felony eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled and dangerous substance.
"The camera system isn't exactly a new thing,” said Sgt. Gibbs. “In this case, these were pole mounted cameras and they did obviously help us to stop a crime and we're very fortunate that we have them."
He said the flock cameras have also helped track down vehicles involved in Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts.