Tulsa Police K9 Officers Catch Armed Robbery Suspects

Tulsa Police say three men suspected of committing an armed robbery; a carjacking and being involved in a police chase are in the Tulsa County jail early Monday.

Officers said it started near 33rd and Mingo where three men robbed an individual at gunpoint at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. 

Police said the trio then got into a dark-colored Ford pickup truck and drove away.

At about 11 p.m., police said one of the three men carjacked the driver of a white pickup truck at 21st and Garnett. Officers said he then drove off in the pickup.

After a search, police found that pickup parked at 41st and Garnett and arrested Jose Ortega, 21, of Tulsa. The victim, who was with officers spotted the dark-colored pickup truck leaving a QuikTrip just across the street.

Police said that pickup drove off with officers in pursuit. Police said their helicopter took over the chase and the vehicle was found abandoned near 27th Place and Sheridan.  

After about an hour of searching, officers gave up looking for the pair. 

Shortly thereafter, an officer on patrol spotted the two men walking nearby and the police helicopter and K9 officers were called back and both men were tracked down. One was arrested after a K9 officer chased him down and the second one was located by another K9 officer hiding under a backyard deck of a home.

Sergeant Darren Bristow with the Tulsa Police said, "They just couldn't get a spot on him, but the K9 was tracking right there and they tracked into that backyard...and the dogs found him right underneath the deck."

Police said none of the victims were injured.

The two men, Pedro Aguirre, 20, and Saul Rios, 20, arrested and taken to the hospital to be treated for dog bites before they were taken to the Tulsa County jail.  

Jose Ortega was booked into the Tulsa County jail on a complaint of armed robbery.  Pedro Aguirre was booked on complaints of first-degree robbery, eluding and resisting arrest.  And Saul Rios was booked into jail on complaints of first-degree robbery and resisting arrest. 

Jail records show all three have a court appearance set for April 7, 2014.