Broadway eludes trooper, facing five counts

A Muldrow man is facing five counts in Sequoyah County District Court after attempting to elude an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper in Muldrow.

Joseph P. Broadway, 38, was charged Jan. 11 with endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude a police officer, driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, driving with license suspended/cancelled/ revoked, failure to maintain insurance or security, and operating vehicle with expired/ improper tag/decal. He is now set for a Feb. 8 felony disposition docket before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

Trooper Brice Earls reported on the afternoon of Jan. 8 he was at the intersection of S. 4730 Road and E. 1050 Road when he saw a 2006 black Toyota Scion without a tag displayed. The driver, later identified as Broadway, also reportedly failed to use his turn signal.

The trooper activated his emergency lights but Broadway failed to slow down and continued driving, so the trooper sounded his siren to make sure Broadway was aware he was being pulled over. According to the arrest affidavit, Broadway sped up and allegedly began driving erratically at speeds of over 65 mph on the rural dirt road. The trooper then notified dispatch he would be in pursuit of the vehicle.

Broadway turned and departed the roadway to the right for about six feet before entering back onto the roadway and hitting a ditch. He then reportedly ran over a pile of gravel and through a barbed-wire fence before going down a trail through the woods on private property and entering onto Highway 64B.

Earls reported as Broadway approached WW Grocery at about 60 mph, he turned into the parking lot and drove beside two vehicles. He then entered E. 1050 Road where he nearly lost control of the Scion and continued traveling east.

Earls notified dispatch he would be setting up a tactical vehicle interception (TVI) and as Broadway approached at a speed of 80 mph, his rear driver’s side tire blew out. Broadway turned south onto 4750 Road, striking a ditch and continuing back onto the roadway. Earls set up the TVI in an attempt to stop the pursuit three times, which ended with Broadway reportedly swerving over and hitting the trooper’s patrol unit, according to the affidavit.

The trooper reported it caused him to hit the brakes and back off Broadway’s vehicle because of his aggressive driving. Broadway reportedly continued driving aggressive and on the opposite side of the road into the oncoming lane over blind hills before turning left onto E. 1057 Road and departing the roadway once again, striking a ditch and stopping after hitting a small tree.

Earls said Broadway jumped from the vehicle as if he was allegedly going to run on foot, so he drew his firearm and instructed him to get on the ground. Broadway’s passengers, Randy J. Sanders and Jeremiah Weeks, were told to exit the vehicle and get on the ground face down. The trooper reported removing a knife from Sanders’ person and all three were handcuffed and detained.

When Earls asked Broadway what his name was, he reportedly told him his last name was Wilson or Wasson. He reported Broadway was slurring his speech and acting confused, according to the affidavit. He also told the trooper “they had given him the wrong medicine for his head.” Emergency personnel was called to check on his condition since he claimed to have taken the wrong medication, according to the arrest affidavit.

Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy Galen Irvin ran both passenger’s names through dispatch and both reportedly had warrants for their arrest out of Muldrow and Roland. Both passengers were transported to where their warrants were from and Broadway was transported to the OHP office in Sallisaw after being cleared by EMS.

Broadway agreed to have his blood drawn but would not agree to have it tested, according to the report. He was then taken to courthouse where he signed the refusal and was booked into the Sequoyah County Detention Center.