Man Accused Of Car Theft In Colorado Arrested After Police Chase In Oklahoma

Sand Springs police said a man wanted for auto theft in Colorado is in custody here, after leading police on a chase that started in Sapulpa and ended in Tulsa.

Police said the suspect tried to run over an officer and that officer fired shots, but the suspect took off again.

The majority of the time during the chase, Michael Gonzales was driving on the wrong side of the road, putting everyone in his path in danger, police said.

"That guy has not only endangered not only our officers, but all of these people down the road," said Deputy Chief Todd Enzbrenner with Sand Springs Police.

Police said everything started in Sapulpa around midnight when people noticed a suspicious car in a neighborhood and called police.

Officers said when they tried to pull him over, Gonzales drove away.

Sand Springs police picked up the chase and said at one point, Gonzales pulled over but refused to get out, then drove toward an officer, who fired shots at Gonzales, then the pursuit started again.

"At one point there was a lead police car in front that was trying to warn the public that, 'hey we got problems over here,' and the suspect would pass them, so he's on his own driving the wrong way," Enzbrenner said.

Enzbrenner said the chase ended near Utica in Tulsa, and Gonzales was taken into custody. He said Gonzales put a lot of people in danger.

"You don't get on a highway and drive on a highway and expect to see headlights coming at you," Enzbrenner said.

He said Gonzales has a felony warrant for auto theft in Colorado.

Enzbrenner said it was a group effort getting him into custody.

"It's just kind of a dangerous world, and whenever dangerous things happen with one police agency or one police officer, we're going to come to their aid and help as best we can," he said.

Enzbrenner said OSBI is investigating the shooting, and the officer is on administrative leave until that investigation is complete.