Tulsa Police Say K9 Officer Helped Catch Driver Of Stolen Van

A Tulsa Police K9 officer helped catch a Skiatook man officers say led them on a chase in a stolen van Thursday morning.

Police said they were investigating a report of a stolen van at 31st and Lakewood when officers spotted it and then tried to stop it at about 5:30 a.m.

Police chased the van onto the Broken Arrow Expressway through downtown Tulsa and west towards Sand Springs, where it drove through an empty lot, several backyards and chain link fences in the 3900 block of West Easton Place.

Officers said during the chase, the van was traveling without headlights, weaving in and out of traffic.

Police say Kevin McGinnis, 27, jumped out and ran but the K9 officer found him a short time later hiding in a boat in the back yard of a home at 38th West Avenue and Cameron.

Police returned the van to its owner.

Officers took the McGinnis to the hospital to be checked out for dog bites before they took him to the Tulsa County jail.

He was booked on complaints of possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding, hit and run and having no driver's license.  Jail records show McGinnis was being held in lieu of $28,700 bond with a court appearance set for February 13, 2014.