Thief breaches security at Tulsa Air National Guard base

A security breach at Tulsa's Air National Guard base. It wasn't a terrorist, but a man who'd stolen soda pop from a nearby convenience store and was trying to keep from being caught. <br><br>News

Wednesday, January 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A security breach at Tulsa's Air National Guard base. It wasn't a terrorist, but a man who'd stolen soda pop from a nearby convenience store and was trying to keep from being caught.

News on Six crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains what happened. It all started at a store when a citizen saw a man loading four boxes of sodas into the trunk of his car. The citizen notified the clerk, and then hopped into his car.

The suspect rammed the citizen's vehicle and the chase was on. It ended at 42nd Street North and Mingo. The suspect hopped a fence into American Airlines, then, hopped another one into the Air National Guard base.

Lt Col Willie Braggs, Air National Guard: "Pretty unusual. Not too many people, running from the law jump onto a military base. It's probably not the smartest thing to do." Military Police and Tulsa Police and three search dogs tried to find the man, but couldn't. They now suspect he was hiding in a dumpster.

But they didn't give up and two hours later, nabbed their man. Master Sergeant Wayne Adams, Air National Guard: "We had guys in this area and he basically walked right into em." They say Allen Overstreet refused to halt and even tried to run, but he was no match to soldiers carrying M-16's.

Prison records show Overstreet was given a five-year term in '93 for stolen vehicle, he got out in '95. Then, in 99, he went back to prison for stolen property on an eight year term. He wasn't supposed to get out until November of 2003, but they let him go a few months ago and now, he's headed back again.

Lt. Col. Braggs: "Normally, we don't want people jumping over our fences, but, it proved to be a good exercise and it shows once again why these guys are professionals, since they apprehended him." The Air National Guard base is already heavily secured, but this has certainly helped them make even more improvements. The sentries saw the man come onto the compound immediately, they just had a hard time finding him, even with dogs, partly because it was windy and he stayed up wind from them.

And, what would've been a misdemeanor for stealing pop could now be a federal trespassing charge.