People immediately dialed 911 when they saw a man, who was the target of a manhunt, emerging from a creek in Norman.
According to Lieutenant Eric Foster of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the individual in question is considered to be dangerous and is believed to have warrants, possibly across multiple counties.
Benjamin Douglas, a 19-year-old, had been hiding in a creek for several hours.
According to witnesses, when he believed that investigators were easing off, he attempted to escape but was unsuccessful in getting very far.
According to witness Ted Lee, once they left, he came out and thought he was in the clear.
Ted Lee is located in close proximity to the site where teams of investigators, drones, and tracking dogs dedicated their afternoon. According to Foster, the magnitude of resources allocated, including man hours, assets, dogs, and drones, raises the question of why such extensive efforts were undertaken for a single individual.
The OHP and Norman police took to social media to share a picture of Douglas, stating that the teenager had been involved in several encounters with the law.
“We’re not out here just to capture bad guys. Our main objective is to ensure the safety of the people,” Foster emphasized.
The search began in Noble after four individuals fled during a routine traffic stop, and Douglas managed to escape.
Investigators observed that Douglas, who was known to seek refuge in trees and dense foliage, was spotted by a helicopter descending upon the vegetation near the creek.
Lee recounted the intense moment when officers, armed with rifles and accompanied by search dogs, abruptly shifted their attention. “To attract their attention, I just kept honking the horn,” Lee said.
Lee, being aware of the search that had taken place outside his workplace, honked his horn in an attempt to notify the authorities about Douglas’ location. According to Lee, “I said that’s him, you could tell he had that look.”
Lee’s colleague captured a video of Douglass, who was shirtless, running past them, prompting a call to 911. According to Lee, despite being cornered by the authorities, Douglass managed to elude them.
Within moments, officers swiftly descended upon a backyard, apprehending Douglas and taking him into custody. The unfolding events captivated the attention of curious and concerned students at OU, who observed the scene with intrigue.
“I don’t know why someone would want to do that, throw their life they have so much to live for,” said University of Oklahoma student Payton Bullock.
“Especially after hearing the message, alerts, and stuff like that, it threw us all off guard,” said University of Oklahoma student James Harvey.
Four individuals, three males, and one female, were apprehended by the OHP. According to the OHP, all four suspects were wearing masks as they attempted to evade the police.
The stolen vehicle they were in had been reported as stolen in Oklahoma City.
