Tuesday, August 23rd 2022, 6:53 pm
A joint press conference with Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson and Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley took place on Tuesday following the deadly shooting of an Oklahoma County deputy.
The loss of Deputy Robert Swartz on Monday was felt by law agencies across the state.
Gourley gave a timeline of the incidents that occurred Monday at the residence where Benjamin Plank, 35, was being evicted.
Related: Oklahoma Co. Sheriff, OKC Police Chief Reveal New Details Of Deadly Deputy Shooting
It was a routine day for the Oklahoma County deputies serving Plank the court order that was filed by the man’s mother.
News 9 also learned Plank’s mother filed for a victim’s protective order this month. Noted in the VPO, law enforcement was supposed to take Plank’s guns. Police are investigating how the suspect had weapons.
“He had several handguns,” Oklahoma City Police Department chief Wade Gourley said. “He had a rifle, so yeah, he had several handguns.”
The deputies showed up to the southwest Oklahoma City home Plank was living in around 1 p.m. to serve the lockout order. Plank opened fired at the deputies, killing Sgt. Bobby Swartz -- a 25-year Oklahoma County Sheriff's veteran -- and seriously injuring Deputy Mark Johns.
Johnson shared the first words out of Johns’ mouth at the hospital.
“He grabs my hand and says, ‘Sir, I couldn’t save him. I’m sorry,’” Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson said.
Oklahoma City police were called at 1:18 p.m. to respond to the shots fired and learned Plank fled the home in a truck hauling a boat. Plank led two officers on a dangerous pursuit on Interstate 35 and onto Interstate 40.
During the pursuit, Plank allegedly started a shootout with officers.
The pursuit came to a dramatic end at the main gate of Tinker Air Force Base. Plank got out of the truck and surrendered to armed military police and Oklahoma City officers. The officers who fired at Plank are now on paid administrative leave.
Gourley said the investigation will be lengthy, but they knew this was Plank’s intent after looking into his home.
“I won’t go into details, but I can tell you 100 percent confidence (sic), he was planning on killing any law enforcement that came to his house,” said Gourley.
Plank is in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center and being held without bond.
News 9 reached out to Plank’s relatives for comment, but no one has responded.
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