Oklahoma police recently arrested a man accused of stealing a nonprofit organization’s vehicle. He is currently facing allegations for eluding a police officer, unauthorized use of a vehicle and multiple drug charges. The van was also returned to the organization.
The Peaceful Family Solutions nonprofit group uses a 15-passenger van to transport families and their children to various programs put on by the organization. However, one Wednesday morning in June 2018, staff members showed up to work to find the vehicle missing. They told police there was a chair outside of an open window at the building, where the vehicle’s keys were missing.
A witness reported seeing the stolen vehicle at approximately 10:15 p.m. that same day. A police officer who was in the same area was able to locate the van, at which time the officer tried to initiate a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, the man behind the wheel of the van drove through a red light, started a brief chase and then tried to drive through a fence. At that point he allegedly exited the vehicle and climbed a chain link fence, but police were able to catch up to him, at which point he was arrested.
Whether filed on their own or in addition to other criminal allegations, drug charges can have a serious impact on a defendant’s life. Many individuals face consequences in their personal lives soon after being arrested, such as losing jobs or even relationships. In order to minimize criminal consequences which can further complicate things, defendants in Oklahoma may want to consider speaking with knowledgeable attorneys concerning possible defense strategies. These usually include things like fighting criminal charges until the very end of criminal court proceedings, or negotiating plea deals to secure lesser charges.
