Published: April 14, 2009 08:24 am      

High speed chase ends at Claremore toll gate

A man with a felony warrant out of Wagoner County led Pryor police on a high speed chase Thursday.

Rickey S. Center, 55, Tahlequah, eluded officers for over 50 miles while driving at speeds over 100 miles per hour.

Center was spotted heading into Pryor on Highway 20, and appeared to be a drunk driver. Officer Tommy Parker attempted to pull Center over, but he kept driving.

Center headed north on Highway 69, and Detective James Willyard, Officers Justin Couch, David Reed and Michael Moore joined Parker in the chase.

Center drove to Big Cabin, then headed west on Will Rogers Turnpike. During the chase, officers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Craig County, Vinita, Mayes County and Claremore joined in on the chase.

Stop sticks were put out several times, and Center drove over a set near the Adair exit on the turnpike.

Center was apprehended when he took the Claremore exit and stopped at the gate.

Center likely ran because he had a $45,000 felony warrant issued for his arrest in Wagoner County. The charges are from a similar incident on March 31. He was charged in Wagoner County with eluding, two counts of running a road block, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a police officer.

Center was taken by the Highway Patrol and booked into the Rogers County jail. He could face charges in Mayes, Craig and Rogers Counties