Authorities kept busy with two early Friday morning police chases

Friday, March 11th 2005, 6:10 am

By: News On 6

A high speed Tulsa Police chase lands two men behind bars. Tulsa Police say it started about 1:30 AM Friday near 11th and Sheridan when officers noticed a car leaving a bar squealing its tires.

When officers tried to stop the driver, he took off. Soon after the chase began police say the passenger tossed a handgun out the window and bailed out. He was quickly captured. The driver kept going, so police called for help.

Tulsa Police officer Don Deramus: "The helicopter became involved in the pursuit after I-244. We continued the pursuit until the driver bailed out."

That happened near Haskell and Boston when the suspect drove the car into a backyard. He was arrested. No names have been released and no one was hurt.

Another chase early Friday morning, involved the Oklahoma Highway Patrol ended in a Tulsa homeowner's front yard.

It happened when a trooper tried to stop a driver. The suspect took off and the chase was on. It ended at 56th and Zunis where the driver tried to run off on foot, but he was caught. He has several outstanding warrants.

Troopers say he also had no driverâ€™s license and was driving his girlfriend's rented vehicle.