Suspect Arrested, Accused Of Weeks-Long Crime Spree In Sapulpa

Sapulpa Police said a man who went on a massive crime spree for three weeks is finally in custody, but not without leaving behind several victims and an injured officer.

Dakota Deckard stole from several business, stole from a church, stole cars and led law enforcement on two different chases, police said.

Police said they've arrested Deckard a couple dozen times in the last few years and he keeps getting out of jail and committing the same crimes.

Police said Tuesday night alone, he stole two cars, led law enforcement on two chases, then was finally arrested Wednesday after an hour and a half long standoff. Deckard was found hiding in a compartment under the bed of his father’s truck, police said.

Pastor Todd White was almost face-to-face with Deckard Tuesday morning when White showed up to work at South Heights Baptist Church in Sapulpa.

Police said Deckard broke in to the church and ransacked the place, stole money, and stole the pastor's shotgun.

"He was in the foyer with the gun when I started in,” said Pastor White. “He ran to the back of the building. He had been here about 30 minutes. He ran to the back of the building and hid."

Pastor White didn't know all of this until afterward when he was watching the surveillance video.

"When the police arrived he could see through the window, he waited until they came in, and opened the window, and busted out the screen and escaped out the back of the building, said Pastor White.

Police said Deckard's crime spree started May 21, when he broke into Dominoes and Taco Bueno and stole cash.

Deckard then tried to break into his neighbor's home but was scared off, police said. But later that same night, he broke into the city pool and stole their cash register, according to police.

"We were able to get surveillance video from most of these businesses and it was determined from the surveillance video based on our lengthy history with this individual, we were automatically able to determine it was him,” said Captain Mike Sole with Sapulpa Police.

Police said Deckard stole two cars Tuesday night and led police on two chases, but they said Deckard was driving too fast and it was raining, so they ended the chases.

Deckard was found hiding in a hidden compartment of his dad's truck Wednesday and was arrested after a standoff, police said.

"We were worried that if he was not caught, these crimes were going to escalate until someone got really really hurt,” said Captain Sole.

Pastor White is counting his blessings he wasn't hurt or killed when he walked into his church.

"I've never been afraid to go to the Lord's house and I am not going to start now,” said White.

Records show Deckard has nearly a dozen open cases with the Muscogee Creek Nation for burglary, stolen property, running from police, resisting arrest, domestic assaults, and other charges.

We’ve also learned a Sapulpa officer was hurt in a crash earlier Wednesday while he on his way to the standoff with Deckard. The officer was heading south on New Sapulpa Road and went through an intersection where he was hit by a truck, police said.

Police said that caused the officer to crash head-on into a minivan. The officer is now out of the hospital with a broken foot and concussion. The pickup driver was ejected and taken to the hospital as well.

"This guy who has caused all of this havoc in our city the last few weeks, made this choice this morning and it resulted in our officer getting hurt, and another individual getting hurt,” said Captain Sole.

Police said the driver of the truck made an illegal left turn and crashed into the officer, but the crash is still under investigation.