A Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputy has been placed on administrative leave after he reportedly fled from authorities in a county SWAT van over the weekend, The Frontier has learned.
The deputy’s wife called 911 early Sunday morning after the two had a domestic dispute at their home in Wagoner County, said a source with knowledge of the incident. The source spoke on condition of anonymity.
Justin Green, a spokesman for the sheriff”s office, said Sunday that a deputy was being investigated by the internal affairs division regarding an incident that occurred over the weekend. He said he could not release additional information.
Deputy Justin Green, a spokesman for the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, said the agency does not have a report about an incident involving a deputy early Sunday. DYLAN GOFORTH / The Frontier
Sources identified the deputy as Robby Lovett, a member of the sheriff’s SWAT team. Lovett could not be reached for comment Monday.
Following the argument, Lovett left his home in the SWAT van, which contained weapons and ammunition, the source said. He was reportedly asleep in the van when a deputy from the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office spotted him.
Lovett reportedly led deputies on a chase before he stopped the van and ran, the source said.
When contacted by The Frontier about the incident on Sunday, Green said he was not aware of it and would check. He initially said a deputy had been arrested but later clarified that statement, saying no arrest had been made.
The Frontier requested an incident report from the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, which has not responded to the request, and from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office. Green said he was told the sheriff’s office did not have a report about the incident.
In a story by The Frontier’s media partner, NewsOn6, a major with the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office said Lovett admitted to drinking five or six beers hours before the incident. Maj. Coy Jenkins told NewsOn6 that Lovett passed two of the three sobriety tests.
The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office told the station that Lovett’s wife refused to fill out a statement.
