Officer fires shots during pursuit

An Oklahoma City police officer fired shots during a pursuit Friday morning, police reported.

About 3:20 a.m. Friday, Sgt. Joshua Castlebury stopped a driver in a pickup that had been reported stolen near Interstate 40 and Eastern Avenue. The driver sped off, and Castlebury chased him to the SE 25 bridge over Interstate 35, where the driver rammed the truck into Castlebury's patrol car. Castlebury fired his gun at the driver, who continued south on I-35.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers joined the chase, performing a maneuver that caused the truck to spin and become immobile.

Officers arrested George Dewayne Hanna, 54, near I-35 and SE 25. Hanna was booked into the Oklahoma County jail Friday morning.

No one was shot or injured during the incident, police said. Castlebury has been placed on paid administrative leave.

According to the Oklahoma City police operations manual, an officer is allowed to use deadly force in case of vehicle collisions where “the intent to injure the officer … is reasonably apparent and there is imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.”

Castlebury has been involved in use of force incidents in Oklahoma City in the past.

On June 9, 2014, Roc LaRue, 43, was shot and killed after a car chase that started in Warr Acres and ended near NW 61 and Shawnee Avenue. The chase started after LaRue reportedly stole a vehicle from the parking lot of a Warr Acres Dollar General Store.

Castlebury, who held the rank of officer at the time, fired a bean bag shotgun at the man as he drove over trash cans in a neighborhood. The pursuit ended when LaRue got out of the vehicle and was shot by two Oklahoma City officers and a Warr Acres officer. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Castlebury was placed on restricted duty after the shooting.

On Dec. 7, 2014, Castlebury, who by then had been promoted to the rank of sergeant, and Sgt. Christopher Grimes shot and killed a 39-year-old man they said pointed a firearm at them following a car chase.

Officers attempted to pull over a vehicle Jerry Demonte Nowlin was driving in northeast Oklahoma City, but he refused to stop. Shortly after, Nowlin crashed the vehicle into the fence of an apartment complex and fled on foot.

Officers pursued Nowlin and opened fire when he reportedly pointed the gun at them. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

Castlebury and Grimes were placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation into the shooting was complete.