KWTV NEWS 9 helps snare fleeing driver

BETHANY — KWTV NEWS 9's helicopter helped police track down a man during a high-speed chase that traversed several miles from Bethany to a plowed field southwest of Oklahoma City on Tuesday evening, police said.

Police said Rodolfo Trevino III, 38, was arrested on complaints of:

•Possession of a stolen vehicle.

•Attempting to elude police.

•Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Other complaints could be added, Police Chief Neal Troutman said.

Bethany police decided at one point to end the chase, which began about 6 p.m. in their city, because speeds were too high, Troutman said.

But once Sky News 9 HD, the station's helicopter, phoned Bethany dispatchers with the whereabouts of the stolen sport utility vehicle, officers with assisting agencies were able to catch up, Troutman said.

Troutman said the chase started when an off-duty Bethany police officer noticed a man smoking out of a glass pipe near NW 36 and Rockwell and attempted to stop the sport utility vehicle the man was driving. The driver instead decided to flee in the SUV, Troutman said.

Troutman said the man drove west to Sara Road, then south on Sara Road, where the SUV nearly collided with an Oklahoma City fire truck on its way to a nearby fire.

Chase speeds approached 120 mph near SW 89 and Sara Road, Troutman said. Near State Highway 4, Bethany police lost sight of the vehicle and ended their chase, Troutman said.

Sky News 9 alerted authorities to the SUV's position near SH 4 and SH 37, Troutman said.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Newcastle police, and Grady and McClain County sheriff's departments continued the pursuit. The SUV was stopped by Grady County officers in a plowed field north of SH 37 and Council Road, Troutman said.