Police: Man Injured In Officer Shooting Is Del City Serial Robbery Suspect

Del City police said a man shot over the weekend by Norman police is the same man wanted for several armed robberies in Del City.

Monday, August 11th 2014, 7:01 pm

By: News 9

Police: Man Injured In Officer Shooting Is Del City Serial Robbery Suspect

Del City police said a man shot over the weekend by Norman police is the same man wanted for several armed robberies in Del City.

Del City investigators said they believe 44-year-old Jimmie Wheeler was trying to avoid being caught on Saturday because of an arrest warrant issued for him on Friday.

“Not surprised,” said Del City Police Major Jody Suit. “We believe this subject was armed and dangerous to the point that if we had found him first, we would have been concerned of the danger.”

News 9 aired video last week of a serial robbery suspect in Del City, and several tips identified the man as Wheeler.

Del City investigators said they found his Facebook page to compare pictures, and also discovered he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery in Arizona.

Del City police got an arrest warrant and went to his Norman home along with Norman police, but he was not there.

“Collected evidence we believe was related to these robberies, and at that point we know that later that evening, somehow, he would have found out that we were looking for him,” Major Suit said.

Norman police went back out to Wheeler's home on Saturday and said he took off in his car, eventually crashing.

They said after the crash, he did something "suspicious" that led officers to shoot him.

“Only one fired," Norman Police Captain Tom Easley told News 9. "I can't tell you how many times or where and how many times Mr. Wheeler was hit at this point.”

Wheeler survived, and Norman police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting.

Captain Easley said this case is not as clear cut as the last officer-involved shooting Norman police had.

“This is a little more complex, and we don't have all the answers," said Captain Easley. "We will get the answers eventually.”

Meanwhile, Major Suit said his department can pin four Walmart robberies on Wheeler, dating back to September of 2013.

“Very dangerous individual who was so confident when he robbed places, that he didn't seem excited at all, just very calm and very matter of fact,” Major Suit explained.

Major Suit said Del City will file robbery charges on Wheeler soon.

The two Norman police officers are on paid leave while the department investigates the shooting.

Edmond police arrested Wheeler back in September on drug charges, and Del City police said he had thousands in cash on him at the time of his Edmond arrest, likely from one of the Walmart robberies in Del City.