Man jailed after taking deputy’s vehicle, gun

At approximately 6 a.m. July 4, the Haskell County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call about a man on State Highway 82 in Lequire waving his arms.

A deputy made contact with the man, Mickey Richardson. The deputy arrested Richardson for public intoxication, placed him in handcuffs, and buckled him in the back seat of the patrol unit.

As the deputy was driving to the jail, Richardson managed to slip the handcuffs to his front and crawl into the front seat. Richardson attempted to grab the deputy’s shotgun. The deputy tried numerous times to tase Richardson without success. At some point, the deputy exited the patrol unit and Richardson took control of the vehicle. Richardson drove toward the deputy, but swerved at the last moment.

Several officers in the area pursued the stolen police Tahoe. A Quinton officer spotted the SUV driving southbound on State Highway 82, the opposite way the officer was traveling. The officer saw Richardson holding a shotgun out the driver’s window, pointing it at the officer.

The officer shot one time at the Tahoe, striking a back tire. Richardson continued to drive.

A Stigler officer then spotted the vehicle traveling southbound on State Highway 82. The officer saw Richardson driving toward him with a shotgun outside the window, pointing toward him.

The officer took cover behind his patrol car. The Quinton officer picked up the Stigler officer and continued to pursue Richardson.

During this pursuit, they saw the passenger window of the Tahoe explode as though it had been shot from inside. The officers also heard a shotgun blast.

The Stigler officer fired at Richardson. Shortly after, the stolen police Tahoe slowed to a stop.

Richardson had been hit by gunfire. He was transported to a Tulsa area hospital. He now sits in the Haskell County jail on multiple complaints including public intoxication, grand larceny, and assault and battery on a police officer.

No one else was injured. The Haskell County Sheriff requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigate the shooting. The district attorney will determine whether the shooting was justified.