Diamond Daze pursuit driver sentenced

A Florida man who was driving the vehicle that crashed into two Sallisaw police officers during May’s Diamond Daze festival has been sentenced in Sequoyah County District Court.

Carlton Rucker, 34, of Plantation, was charged with causing great bodily injury while eluding/ attempting to elude police officer, aggravated assault and battery upon a peace officer, battery/assault and battery on police officer, knowingly concealing stolen property, and possession of burglary tools. He was taken into custody following the crash and held without bond.

On Oct. 26, Rucker pled no contest to his charges.

According to court records, he was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections on the first charge, one year in the Department of Corrections on the second charge with four years suspended, five years suspended on the third charge, and counts four and five were dismissed.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Joa’n Alvarez reported Rucker was fleeing police in a 2020 Hyundai northbound on Oak Street and just south of Creek Ave. when his vehicle met up with two Sallisaw police officers.

Sallisaw Police Capt. John Weber made the decision to stop the fleeing vehicle by positioning his police unit into the path of the Hyundai, causing it to strike him and his passenger, Officer Wesley McGuire, ending the pursuit.

Rucker was reportedly uninjured along with one of his passengers, Courtney Walker, 35, of Dania Beach, but another passenger, Shawn Hyman, 34, also of Florida, was transported by First Flight to St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa where he was admitted in stable condition with leg injuries.

Weber suffered a broken wrist in the crash while McGuirt suffered cuts and bruises.

Walker was facing similar charges but they were reduced to criminal misdemeanor charges, according to court records.

Hyman was expected to be charged upon release from the hospital but court records indicate a warrant was issued for his arrest on May 25 and remains in effect.