OSBI Investigates After Man Dies In Custody Of Wagoner County Deputies

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of a man while he was in the custody of Wagoner County deputies. Sheriff Chris Elliott said it all happened within a matter of just five minutes. 

A deputy made a routine traffic stop at 9:54 p.m. Monday after a man was doing donuts near Highways 51 and 69, the sheriff said. The deputy said the man was behaving suspiciously and hiding under the seat.

The deputy pulled out his gun and pointed it at the driver who lunged at the officer and tried to get the gun, according to Sheriff Elliott.

"At some point in time the suspect came out of the car, grabbed the deputies gun, and there was a fight over control of the deputies gun," Elliott said.

The sheriff said there was a struggle, and another deputy and paramedics helped hold the man down. The driver was taken to the hospital where authorities said he stopped breathing.

"The hospital said he had trauma to the back of the head," Elliott said. "We don't know how severe and the fight happened on pavement." 

Elliott also said deputies never fired their guns and the next step is investigate if tasers were used.

No weapon was found on scene, according to Elliott. 

The man's name has not yet been released.