Charges filed in Oklahoma City Police officer's death

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma County prosecutors filed second-degree murder charges on Tuesday against two people accused of eluding police during a chase that ended with a crash and an officer's

Tuesday, November 1st 2005, 5:14 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma County prosecutors filed second-degree murder charges on Tuesday against two people accused of eluding police during a chase that ended with a crash and an officer's death.

Sgt. Jonathan Dragus crashed his patrol cruiser when he swerved to avoid a pickup truck and crashed into a tree while pursuing a motorcycle through a northwest Oklahoma City intersection. He died Oct. 20 from his injuries.

Kyle Wayne Grider, 22, the alleged driver of the motorcycle, was charged with second-degree murder and eluding a police officer. A 16-year-old passenger on the motorcycle, Chelsea R. Free, also will be charged with second-degree murder as a youthful offender, Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane said.

Punishment for second-degree murder is 10 years to life in prison.

Steven Jerry Madden and Daniel Lee Steed, both 22, were charged with harboring a fugitive for assisting Grider after the crash and not contacting authorities.