One arrested in Beckham County manhunt

ELK CITY — One of eight men who led officers on a two-state pursuit early Thursday morning was arrested that afternoon in Beckham County.

The man told investigators the men were brought into the country illegally by a man who also had drugs and cash on him.

Early Thursday, a deputy in Wheeler County, Texas, tried to stop a speeding car. The car sped off and the deputy pursued the car east on Interstate 40. About 3:45 a.m. the car went over stop sticks just southwest of Elk City and eight people got out and ran into a wooded area, said Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning.

Thursday afternoon, a 33-year-old Hispanic man was arrested on the south side of Elk City after a truck driver spotted him and called the sheriff’s office.

The man, whose name was not released, told officers there were seven others with him in the car.

A small amount of what appears to be methamphetamine and paraphernalia were found in the car, the sheriff’s office reported. The man was taken to the Beckham County jail where he was booked on a complaint of eluding law officers. The man told investigators he was going to Oklahoma City to stay with relatives, Manning said.

The man arrested told officers he hid in a field near I-40 after the pursuit. Officers are continuing to search the area for the others in the area southwest of Elk City, Manning said.

Manning said all of the men sought are believed to be Mexican nationals. The men have cellphones and could be trying to get rides out of the area, Manning said.

The sheriff’s office is urging people to be cautious in the area as the search for the others continues.