SALLISAW, Okla — Two Sallisaw officers working the Diamond Daze Festival upheld their oath to serve and protect on May 6.
On May 18th, they were recognized on the Senate floor in Oklahoma City. Captain John Weber and Officer Wesley McGuirt were recognized for heroism and preventing tragedy.
Governor Kevin Stitt presented the officers with a governor’s commendation for their response to a high-speed pursuit left the highway and endangered the lives of local citizens attending the Diamond Daze Festival in Sallisaw. The officers were also presented a citation by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, Sen. Tom Woods, R-Westville, and Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Sallisaw.
“These professionals did something so extraordinary that warranted so much more than a citation from their legislators. We are grateful for Governor Stitt’s unwavering commitment to law enforcement and help in recognizing these heroes. We cannot thank them enough for their response and heroism on that day, and every day,” Hamilton said.
2 News Oklahoma previously covered the incident when body camera coverage of the incident was released.
“I’m going to ram him if he comes this far,” said Weber in footage from May 6 moments before he crashed head-on into a suspect's vehicle.
The vehicle was headed straight for a crowd of people celebrating the Diamond Daze Festival — an event for people to celebrate the warmer weather with live music, food, vendors, a car show, and fun.
But what was planned as a celebration quickly turned terrifying as Sallisaw police said the officers working the event, Weber and McGuirt, got word of a police pursuit headed toward the festival.
In the released video, people could be seen walking around, possibly leaving the festival, when the car involved in the pursuit drives quickly down Oak Street.
Police Chief Terry Franklin said Weber saw the scene unfolding and decided he had no other choice than to stop the car by crashing head-on into it.
“I’m going to shut it down,” Weber could be heard saying in the body camera video.
The officer's actions stopped the suspect's vehicle from getting near the festival. Police Chief Franklin said they stopped what would have been a tragic situation with massive casualties.
As a result of the accident, Weber has a broken wrist, and McGuirt has some cuts and bruises. The other SUV had three passengers, and one went to the hospital with leg injuries.
Chief Franklin said he is beyond proud of the quick response and action from these two officers. He also said no matter who was working that day, any of their officers would have reacted the same way.
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