Former Oklahoma County detention officer dies in Iraq

Wednesday, January 25th 2006, 6:01 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A former detention officer at the Oklahoma County jail was killed in Iraq when the tank he was riding in ran over a homemade bomb, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Army Staff Sgt. Lance Chase, 32, died Monday, sheriff's spokeswoman Kelly Marshall said. She said Chase's father, reserve sheriff's deputy Mike Chase, notified the sheriff's office of the death of his son.

Chase and Pfc. Peter Wagler, 18, of Partridge, Kansas, were conducting patrols when the bomb exploded, killing both men, the Department of Defense said.

Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood.

Marshall said a team from the sheriff's office that deals with families that have suffered a tragedy has been in contact with Mike Chase.

Lance Chase was a detention officer at the jail in 1994 and 1995 before enlisting in the Army.