07/05/14 Norman, OK – Traffic Stop – 2 Men Scuffle With Deputy – Steal His Cleveland County Cruiser – 1 Suspect Shot And Killed In Patrol Car

July 5, 2014

koco.com

Cleveland County authorities were investigating an officer-involved shooting Saturday morning near 24th Avenue SW and West Boyd Street in Norman.

The shooting happened during a traffic stop at 8:45 am when two men in a black sports utility vehicle were stopped by deputies, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

Both men got out of the SUV and the passenger got into a scuffle with a deputy, authorities said. The passenger got free from the scuffle and got into a deputy’s cruiser in an attempt to hit the deputies, authorities said.

A K-9 deputy opened fire as the cruiser came toward him, authorities said.

“These guys were obviously up to no good,” said Meghan McCormick, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. “The deputy opened fire and struck him through the vehicle.”

Witnesses said they heard the shots and saw the cruiser roll to a slow stop.

“I heard the repetition,” Isaac Posey said. “It was one right behind the other. Five shots fired”

Posey, who was on his way to work, took a photo of the suspect after the shots were fired.

“The guy was lying there in his overalls, bloody,” he said. “It looked like when the officers opened the door of the cruiser he fell out of it. The officer was standing there with his gun drawn on the guy.”

The suspect died shortly after he was taken to the hospital. The driver of the SUV was arrested.

Investigators found drugs and weapons inside the car, deputies said.

Both officers involved in the incident have been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation.

The names of the people involved were not released.