Sheriff's Reports 12-3-24: Man helping with Harrah tornado cleanup efforts accused of stealing items

A local man was arrested after he admitted to stealing items while he helped with tornado cleanup efforts in Harrah.

On Nov. 6, Cherokee County Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Robison was contacted by an investigator with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office in regard to a burglarized residence in the Harrah community that had been recently hit by a tornado. A pair of ear pods were taken from the residence and GPS tracked those to a house in Cherokee County. The investigator provided Robison with list of the stolen items. Sgt. James Carver proceeded to the residence and made contact with Thomas Kyle Collins, who gave the deputy several stolen pairs of shoes. Collins allegedly told investigators he went to Oklahoma City with a friend to help with tornado damage cleanup. He claimed they helped a woman load items into a U-Haul truck to be stored, but they took the items, including ammunition. Robison noticed two purses and Collins said those belonged to his girlfriend, who said she didn't own the purses. Collins was arrested and agreed to speak with Robison. Collins was booked for possession of a firearm after felony conviction and knowingly concealing stolen property. On Nov. 7, Collins spoke with investigators again and said the man he went to OKC with had stolen firearms. That man told investigators one of the missing firearms was with another man. Investigators eventually recovered the missing firearm and an arrest warrant was requested for the man who accompanied Collins to OKC.

Sgt. Nick Chute was dispatched to East 745 Road Nov. 21 in reference to a burglary report. The caller stated a gun was pulled when the neighbor was confronted. The victim claimed that Stephen Moore broke into a shed and had items strung across the yard. The victim allegedly said Moore pulled out a firearm and made a threat. Moore was arrested and booked for second-degree burglary, threats to perform an act of violence, and malicious injury to property-under $1,000.

On Nov. 11, Deputy Jaxon Thomlinson was dispatched to Webster Road in regard to a man who was accused of choking a woman. Deputies met with Braden Teague and spoke with the victim, who had markings consistent with being choked. She claimed Teague assaulted and threatened her, and threw paint on her. Teague had markings as well and claimed the woman grabbed his throat and scratched him. Teague was arrested and booked for domestic abuse in the presence of a child, domestic assault and battery by strangulation, and interrupt emergency telephone call.

Deputy Carl Smith was running traffic in Peggs Nov. 17 when he observed a vehicle that caught his attention with its exhaust. Smith said the vehicle was about to come to stop in the road before it turned onto Hickory Drive and then turned onto State Highway 82. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of Cowboy's Store and the driver, Jerry Lee Nichols, got out. Nichols said he didn't have a driver's license, just an identification card out of Missouri. He was asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and he said there wasn't. Smith asked if there were any weapons and Nichols said there was one behind the driver's seat. Nichols advised he was released from prison recently. Dispatch advised the vehicle had not been tagged since 2022 and no insurance information had been found. Deputies searched the vehicle and found marijuana, a smoking device, and caliber bullets. They also found two caliber bullets and a smoking device in Nichols' pockets. Nichols was transported to jail and booked for anticipated charges of former convicted felon in possession of a firearm, operating a motor vehicle without a license, taxes due state, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and no insurance.

On Nov. 16, Deputy Kevin Cohen responded to a traffic stop that Deputy Austin Carver was conducting. Carver said Anthony Pritchett passed him, speeding in a 35-mph zone and driving on the shoulder. Carver said there was an odor of alcohol coming from Pritchett's vehicle. Pritchett was asked to exit the vehicle and allegedly didn't initially comply. He was eventually arrested after a field sobriety test and booked on the anticipated charge of driving under the influence.

These are arrests, not convictions.