Published: February 06, 2009 09:54 am      

Pair nabbed after robbery

Pursuit goes into Texas

WAURIKA — WAURIKA — Two Oklahoma men are being held in Clay County Jail in Henrietta, Texas, awaiting extradition to Jefferson County in connection with an alleged armed robbery Wednesday afternoon in Waurika.

Waurika City Police Chief Earnest Tolle apprehended Jimmy Smart, 30, of Hastings and Preston Glasgow, 27, of Temple at approximately 3:15 p.m., shortly after an employee of The Markette called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department dispatch office to report an armed robbery at the convenience store.

The employee said a male wearing a ski mask had entered the store on East. D Street. Allegedly carrying a shotgun, the man demanded he be given any money on the premises and then exited, having taken between $500 and $600. After the man left the store, the employee said he got into a Z71 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck.

The pair left Waurika at a high rate of speed and made their way to U.S. Highway 70, where they headed west. Tolle, who received a call from the sheriff’s dispatcher and was in pursuit, said the truck then headed south on Oklahoma Highway 79.

After crossing the Red River bridge into Texas, Tolle said he was able to overtake the truck, apprehend Smart and Glasgow, and hold them in custody at gun point until receiving assistance from Clay County Sheriff’s Department deputies. Jefferson County deputies and troopers from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety also responded to the scene.

Smart and Glasgow were taken to Clay County Jail, where they were placed on a 72-hour hold for probable cause, according to Carrie E. Hixon, assistant district attorney for the District 6 District Attorney’s Office.

“Chief Tolle did a very good job in apprehension and in his investigation,” Hixon said Thursday afternoon.

“He was assisted by Sheriff (Michael) Bryant of Jefferson County and Texas law enforcement personnel.

“We’ll be filing for extradition and have (Smart and Glasgow) returned to Oklahoma to face charges.”

Hixon said charges would include a felony charge of armed robbery.

No one was injured in the alleged robbery or during the pursuit and arrest.