High Speed Police Chase in Downtown Tulsa Results in One Wreck, One Arrest

A high-speed police chase through Tulsa's downtown area occurred right before the lunch hour Monday. The chase began when a car sped past an Oklahoma Highway Patrol checkpoint at Highway 97 and Avery

Monday, February 7th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A high-speed police chase through Tulsa's downtown area occurred right before the lunch hour Monday. The chase began when a car sped past an Oklahoma Highway Patrol checkpoint at Highway 97 and Avery Drive in Sand Springs. The car was then pursued by O-H-P troopers to the downtown Tulsa area. One eyewitness described the scene for the News on Six as the suspect vehicle came down the street. "A blue car went through the intersection about 80 miles an hour, pretty fast," said Richard Potter.

During the pursuit, a Tulsa police vehicle driven by sergeant Craig Thompson collided with a car driven by Michael Gilbert at 2nd Street and Denver Avenue. Gilbert, an innocent driver, was treated and released from a local hospital. Thompson suffered no apparent injuries. He was attempting to block traffic away from the area when his car collided with Gilbertâ€™s car.

The collison of the two vehicles didn't stop the pursuit. The driver of the suspect vehicle kept up a high rate of speed, even though the troopers slowed down. "They slowed down at the intersection," said Potter. "They weren't going that fast. He was leaving them."

The driver ran out of road at a dead end located near 15th Street and Houston Avenue. Troopers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver, 30-year-old David Baglin. They questioned and released his three passengers. Troopers say Baglin had a suspended driver's license and nine outstanding felony warrants. They also stress that running from the law is never the answer. "If you're in trouble and have warrants, be a man," said O-H-P Trooper Ron Davis. "Take your medicine. Don't endanger innocent lives."

Area neighbors say they couldn't believe their eyes when the car ran a stop sign and zoomed down their normally quiet street. One eyewitness exclaimed, "Little kids play around here. It could've been a disaster. I'm glad they got him stopped right here." At one point during the chase, a trooperâ€™s vehicle rammed Baglin's car twice, trying to stop the suspect before anyone got hurt.

Baglin faces several new charges including running from police, resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, and without a current tag or insurance. He was also charged for possession of drug paraphenalia.