There are plenty of police pursuits that end with a suspect crashing. It’s a lot less common when the person behind the wheel has allegedly made a habit of running from law enforcement.
According to the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, one Oklahoma man is accused of leading deputies on yet another lengthy chase after refusing to pull over during a traffic stop. Investigators say the pursuit endangered other drivers before ending in a crash on a sharp curve.
Deputies say the suspect wasn’t just fleeing, either. Following the crash, investigators recovered what they described as a loaded, cocked handgun that they believe was knocked from the driver’s hand during the collision.
The arrest marks the third time in about a month that authorities say the suspect has fled from law enforcement, prompting frustration from both investigators and the sheriff over what they describe as a revolving door through the court system.
Pursuit Ended After a Crash in Adair County
According to the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Herb Hutchinson attempted to stop a vehicle while patrolling the Nicut area. Instead of pulling over, authorities say the driver sped away, leading deputies north into neighboring Adair County.
Investigators said the suspect drove recklessly throughout the pursuit, at one point allegedly attempting to force other motorists off the roadway. The chase ultimately came to an end when the vehicle crashed while negotiating a sharp curve.
Authorities identified the driver as Brandon Levi Boykin, whom the sheriff’s office described as a multi-time convicted felon with criminal histories in multiple states. Following the crash, deputies recovered a loaded handgun that they believe had been in Boykin’s hand before the collision.
Deputies Say This Wasn’t Boykin’s First Attempt To Escape
The sheriff’s office says the latest pursuit is just the newest chapter in a string of recent encounters involving Boykin.
Approximately one month earlier, investigators say he fled from the Sallisaw Police Department while driving a stolen vehicle before crashing near the Jackson Mountain area north of Marble City. About a week after that, authorities say Boykin and another suspect, Cody Rowell, fled from deputies following an investigation involving a stolen vehicle, a firearm, and what investigators described as a trafficking quantity of methamphetamine at the Love’s Travel Stop in Vian.
That incident led to an all-night manhunt involving multiple agencies. Since then, deputies from the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, Sallisaw Police Department, District 27 Drug Task Force, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service have continued searching for both suspects.
Following the latest pursuit, Boykin was booked into the Sequoyah County Detention Center on charges that include eluding a police officer, carrying or possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, three counts of AFCF, and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Sheriff Frustrated Over Bond Decision
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators asked that Boykin be held without bond because of his lengthy criminal history, repeated attempts to flee law enforcement, and what they described as the escalating danger he poses to officers and the public.
Officials said the Cherokee Nation initially set Boykin’s bond at $25,000. Investigators later secured an additional arrest warrant related to the earlier Love’s Travel Stop case, setting an $80,000 bond, for a combined total of $105,000.
Sheriff Larry Lane expressed frustration with the decision, saying officers have spent countless hours risking their safety trying to apprehend Boykin.
“This guy has demonstrated over and over that he’s willing to endanger innocent people and law enforcement to avoid being arrested,” Lane said. “These are the kinds of career criminals we need to keep locked up before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.”
Commenters Question Why the Suspect Was Eligible for Bond
Commenters largely echoed the sheriff’s concerns. Many praised Deputy Herb Hutchinson and the assisting agencies for safely ending the pursuit, while others questioned why someone with multiple alleged offenses and repeated attempts to flee had continued to receive bond.
Comments like “Given bond!! What a joke!!,” “He shouldn’t even be released,” and “It’s a shame when law enforcement puts their lives on the line only to see them released again” reflected the dominant reaction, with many hoping the latest arrest keeps Boykin off the streets for much longer.
As always, the suspect is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.