ARKOMA, Okla. — The Sebastian County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), along with other authorities, is looking for a man who reportedly shot at one of their deputies on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Spanish version: Para Español haga clic aquí.
In a release from SCSO, officials said the deputy attempted a traffic stop near the intersection of Zero Street and Wheeler Avenue in Fort Smith. The driver, however, kept driving west, stopping near the Oklahoma state line.
The driver eventually stopped and got out of the vehicle, and despite the deputy demanding he get back in his vehicle, the suspect allegedly fled on foot.
While notifying other agencies about the suspect's fleeing, the deputy chased after him. The release said the suspect ran into a "thickly vegetated area near the railroad tracks " and could no longer be seen.
SCSO said that while the deputy continued to look through the brushy area, he saw two muzzle flashes and heard two gunshots coming from the brush. The deputy then took cover and left the area. Other police agencies arrived and deployed a drone in the area to look for the suspect, but they were unsuccessful. The area was soon cleared, and investigators took over the scene.
Officials are now looking for 32-year-old Jeremiah McCool of Wister, who they identified as the suspect who fled and shot the deputy. An arrest warrant has been issued for McCool for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, class Y felony, with a $100,000 bond.
McCool is 5'5" and weighs 140 pounds. He has short black hair and brown eyes, according to SCSO. He was last seen wearing a multi-colored shirt, blue jeans, and tan work boots.
Multiple authorities are working to find McCool and warn the public he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact SCSO at 479-783-1051. SCSO says callers may remain anonymous if desired.
Stay with 5NEWS for more on this developing story.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and include detail which story you're referring to.
