Mother Taken Into Custody After Standoff With Tulsa Police Involving Children

Two children are safe and in DHS custody Thursday night after they were in the car with their mother during a stand-off with Tulsa police.

Officers said the mom was also driving dangerously around their neighborhood with her kids in the car. Police said it can be tricky to deescalate when children are involved. Officers are glad the situation ended with no one hurt.

According to police, around 5 p.m., a DHS employee showed up at the woman’s house near 11th and Yale with a court order to remove the 1 and 5-year-olds from the home. Police said the mom and the two kids were already in their car when they drove away from the DHS employee and then circled around and pinned the employee in her car. That's when the employee called 911 and the police got involved.

Police said the woman also drove away from officers and into yards and curbs and eventually drove back to her house, parked in the front yard, and read the bible. Officers tried to talk to her via phone and a P.A. system, but most of those conversations were short.

Lt. Dennis Smith said the mom eventually moved from the driver's seat to the back seat, and police pinned her and got the kids out safely.

"Obviously, it's very critical on what we do, as far as our tactics,” said Smith. “We have to be careful on the escalation because of the children's sake for the most part. We need to figure out a way to resolve it as best as we can."

Police believe the mom has some mental health issues and will likely be checked. The woman will also be booked on complaints of child endangerment and obstruction.

Her name has not been released.