Tulsa Van Theft Suspect Captured After Chase, Manhunt

Emory Bryan, News on 6

OSAGE COUNTY, Oklahoma -- Osage County deputies arrested a suspected thief Wednesday after an early morning car chase and manhunt that lasted 8 hours.

Osage County Sheriff's Department Deputy Charlie Cartwright said Guy Patrick Miller was arrested at a ranch north of Pawhuska after he was spotted attempting to break into a car.

Miller is suspected of taking a van belonging to Immanuel Baptist Church, 1950 E 3rd Street, in Tulsa. The van was stolen during the night. A spokesperson for the church said it was used for a mission church associated with Immanuel.

Authorities in Hominy spotted the van early Wednesday, after a report of a gas drive off theft in Cleveland. Cartwright said the Hominy Police Department pursued the van North on Highway 99, where Osage County deputies and Osage Nation officers picked up the pursuit.

Cartwright said deputies decided to force the van off the road 12 miles North of Pwahuska. The van crashed, but the driver escaped.

At 2:35 am, a homeowner near the crash scene reported to 911 that a prowler had been outside his home. The homeowner, Jeff Henry, told the News on 6 that he confronted the man with a shotgun and last saw the suspect running down his driveway.

"And if he had made one more move towards me or anything of that nature, unfortunately I knew in my mind that I was going to have to shoot him," Henry said.

Cartwright said authorities established a perimeter and searched unsuccesfully during the night. Just before 11 am Wednesday, deputies found Miller 3 miles south of the crash scene and he was arrested.

"I should say to any potential criminals out there, if you come to rural America, 99 percent of us are armed and ready to defend our families and our property," Henry said.

Miller is currently in the Osage County Jail.