Suspect Arrest; Stolen Dibble Police SUV Recovered

NEWS 9

DIBBLE, Oklahoma -- A man suspected of stealing a Dibble police officer's car has been arrested.

Cody Barker, 29, was booked into the McClain County jail on Friday afternoon. He is being held on complaints of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a police officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, grand larceny of a vehicle, concealing stolen property, possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction.

Barker fled from a Dibble police officer after he was pulled over around 9 p.m. Thursday, McClain County Sheriff Don Hewett said.

Authorities say Barker was driving a stolen Mustang which he crashed. He then reportedly emerged from the Mustang, pointed a gun at the officer and then after a brief struggle, Barker fled in the officer's SUV.  

"At this time, the Dibble officer exchanged fire," Hewett said. "To our knowledge, there was no fire coming from the suspect."

Authorities recovered the vehicle after woman spotted the car in the woods by her home.

"We turned to come back to the house and I said 'Oh honey, there's a while car in the woods in the brush over there,'" Jeanne Smith said. "He could have been standing right there in the woods, with a bug. We know God watches over us."

The SUV belonged to the Dibble police chief, but he was not on duty that night. The officer has been identified as Larry Watts. He has been placed on paid administrative leave.