DEBI DESILVER TERRY
The Express-Star
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A stop for gas turned a father-son drive into a potential life threatening incident for two local law enforcement officers Sunday.
When the father went in to pay for gas at the EZ-GO store on I-44 north of Chickasha, the son saw an individual in a vehicle next to them put on a bandana like a mask and remove a switchblade knife from his pocket, reported Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Steven Mitchell.
"Andrew Peck hollered at his dad (Roger Peck) and said 'Wait! The guy just put on a mask!'"
Ironically, Andrew is a law enforcement officer with the Grady County Sheriff's Office and Roger is a lieutenant with OHP. And further irony is that one of the OHP Troop G field offices is located right across the highway from the EZ-GO. Several troopers were on the scene within minutes of the call.
Two Mexican citizens, Ricardo Garcia, 23, and Jose Espino-Ortiz, 19, who were determined to be in the United States illegally were arrested and booked into the Grady County Jail, Mitchell reported.
"We don't know what their intentions were," Mitchell said, noting that it was unclear if the men intended to rob the store or to jump Lt. Peck. "When the officers saw the knife, they took action. They both drew down on the two."
Mitchell said one of the men spoke broken English and officers learned that they live in Lawton and work in Oklahoma City as roofers, although they wouldn't name their employer.
Mitchell said the vehicle, which had Texas plates on it, was not stolen, but stolen property was found in the vehicle.
"Garcia had the switchblade and an Oklahoma Access Card (food stamps), which had been reported stolen, was found in the vehicle," Mitchell said. "On the passenger, Espino-Ortiz, we found drug paraphernalia – rolling papers."
The OHP call was dispatched at 1:07 p.m., Mitchell said.
