Checotah Police Capture Suspect Related To PCSO Deputy Death, School Lockdowns

Update 8/24/2022 2:20 p.m.: Checotah Police captured and arrested a man who Pawnee County investigators wanted to question about a deputy's suspicious death.

Investigators searched for John Crotts, who was last seen a week ago in McAlester and has been sought by authorities for three weeks.

On Wednesday, multiple schools in McAlester were placed on lockdown for several hours as authorities searched for Crotts.

The City of McAlester said officers searched in the wooded by the former Spirit AeroSystems building on Electric Avenue.

Lockdowns in McAlester were lifted just before 2 p.m. as Checotah police located Crotts.

No word on the whereabouts of Tabby Johnson, who investigators say Crotts is known to abuse.

Stay tuned for updates.