William Todd Rouse, 40, of Dill City, has been charged with five felonies resulting from a long-distance, high-speed chase that he led lawmen from several agencies on April 26.
The chase covered many of the roads in Washita County in, between and around Dill City and Burns Flat. At one time Burns Flat police fired approximately six shots at the fleeing vehicle, but Chief Tony Willis said all missed.
District Attorney Dennis Smith said Rouse is charged with one count of endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude police officers, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of running a roadblock.
Named as victims in the assault charges are Deputy Kenny Loftiss of the Washita County Sheriff’s Office and troopers Aaron Hunter and Gary Smith of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
No one was hurt in the long-distance pursuit although Hunter’s OHP car sustained an estimated $4,000 damage when Rouse swerved into it while the trooper was trying to do a tactical intervention maneuver and disable the suspect’s auto.
Smith said Rouse made his first court appearance Monday and Associate District Judge Chris Kelly set bond at $50,000. The suspect is to reappear June 11 to say who his attorney is and July 10 for a preliminary hearing conference.
Affidavits written by Loftiss and Hunter were filed with the charges, said Smith. Neither of them mentioned the shots that were fired, but the D.A. said other officers may write statements as well.
“We’re still gathering assessments,” he said.
The pursuit started near Dill City, said Smith, when Loftiss responded to a call concerning the defendant. The D.A. did not know details of the first call.