Police Reports 5-30-23: locals arrested during traffic stops

Two local men were arrested after allegedly fleeing from a crashed stolen vehicle.

On May 20, Tahlequah Police Sgt. Mitchell Sellers was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Fox Street and Stonebrook Drive. The person who called 911 advised that two men were seen running from crashed vehicle. Officers were informed that the vehicle was reportedly stolen out of Salina. A perimeter was set up and officers were able to locate the two men, Perry Sanders and Harold Wofford, lying in a field. Perry claimed he was never in the stolen vehicle and they were headed to a friend who was having car trouble. He supposedly didn’t know the friend’s name but told officers the two of them were messaging each other on Facebook. Officers said there were no messages between Perry and his “friend” on his Facebook messenger. Perry admitted to consuming alcohol when asked due to the strong odor coming from his person. Wofford told officers he and Perry were in the vehicle but a man named Cody was driving. Perry still denied being in the vehicle. Wofford and Perry were booked on tribal charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, public intoxication, and obstruction. Wofford was also booked for a warrant.

Officer Bruce Gower was patrolling the area of South College Avenue May 21 when he observed a driver failing to signal while turning. He met with Sara Moreno, who didn’t have a driver’s license. Gower told the woman his reason for the traffic stop, but she reportedly protested that she used her turn signal. She said she drives “carefully,” despite her not possessing her driver’s license. Gower discovered that the woman’s license had been expired since 2011 and that she was wanted. Moreno was arrested and said she wasn’t aware if there was anything illegal in her vehicle. Gower found marijuana in the vehicle and Moreno claimed it didn’t belong to her. She was booked on tribal charges for failure to signal, no valid driver’s license, possession of marijuana, and the warrant.

On May 19, Lt. Matt Frits conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had a defective brake light. Frits met with the driver, Michael Desantis, who appeared to be nervous. Dispatch advised that Desantis’ driver’s license was suspended and he was arrested. The passenger, Kimberly Sparks, was arrested for public drunkenness after she admitted to consuming alcohol. Officers searched the vehicle when they found some marijuana and a baggie of a crystal-like substance. Desantis was transported to jail and booked for driving under suspension, defective vehicle, and possession of marijuana. Sparks was booked for possession of a controlled dangerous substance and public intoxication.

Officer Gower conducted a traffic stop May 22 on a vehicle that had an expired tag. Douglas Simmons didn’t have a driver’s license, nor insurance on the vehicle. Simmons was arrested for driving while revoked, no insurance, and taxes due state.