SPERRY, Okla. — Steven Ballard, 40, was charged by the State of Oklahoma on April 4 after allegedly leading a multi-agency chase, which ended in Sperry.
Ballard was charged with:
- Two counts of shooting with intent to kill.
- One count of discharging a weapon into dwelling or public place.
- One count of use of a vehicle in discharge of a weapon.
- One count of possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony.
- Two counts of endangering others while eluding a police officer.
- One count of possession of stolen vehicle.
- One count of obstructing an officer.
On June 25, a Tulsa court ruled Ballard is incompetent to stand trial. He will be sent to the department of mental health for treatment.
Tulsa police officers responded to a flock hit late at night on March 28.
Officers attempted to execute a routine traffic stop near Sheridan Rd. a little after 11 p.m. after the car pinged as stolen.
Ballard allegedly got onto I-244 and exited near Peoria instead of stopping.
TPD said officers ended their chase when Ballard reached dangerous speeds and turned their headlights off.
Captain Matt Arnold said it became a threat to public safety and other's well-being.
A short time later, the suspect passed another officer near 3600 N. and MLK Blvd. and started shooting at them. The chase started again.
“Any time we have someone taking shots at officers, we have to consider that if he's willing to shoot at officers, he's willing to shoot at the public,” said Arnold. “That creates a continuing threat for the community. And we have to address that threat."
Police chased him into Sperry until he crashed into an empty building.
"It was a vacant shell of a building so there was no front of the building, there was a gate,” said Arnold. “He went through the gate, went through what used to be the building, no ceiling, and then there was a rear wall that he crashed through.”
After crashing, Ballard allegedly ran and hid under a truck. With assistance from a helicopter, canine units, and other local agencies, he was taken into custody.
"We had a lot of officers respond to the area, we had help from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Sperry Police Department, Osage County Sheriff’s Office were all here almost immediately after the termination point and helped set up a perimeter, which allowed us to track and find this assailant who was trying to hurt officers earlier this evening,” said Arnold.
No officers, including those shot at, sustained any injuries. Ballard walked away with minor scrapes and bruises.
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