Handcuffed Suspect Steals OHP Cruiser

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers arrested an Inola man who stole one of their cruisers while still in handcuffs early Thursday.

Troopers said it all started after a trooper stopped a westbound pickup on the Creek Turnpike driven by Tanner Beavais, 23, at about 1:45 a.m. The trooper stopped Beavais on suspicion of driving under the influence.

The trooper says he found a needle and meth on Beavais, who he handcuffed and put in the cruiser then began searching the pickup.

They say that is when Tanner Beavais somehow got out of one of his handcuffs, scuffled with the trooper and drove off.  

The OHP says the trooper jumped in Beavais' truck and chased after him to 96th and Riverside, where Beavais got out and ran to the bank of the Arkansas River.

A search of the river bank with the help of Tulsa Police located Tanner Beavais who was taken into custody again. He was taken to the hospital to be checked out before going to jail.

Trooper Dwight Durant said it could have happened to any officer.

"We don't want it to happen, but when you get a determined individual like this individual was, these things can happen," Durant said.

OHP booked Beavais into the Tulsa County jail on a number of complaints including, eluding, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and assault and battery on a police officer.