Alva Review-Courier -

A Texas man tried to elude officers in Alva, leaving his vehicle on the NWOSU campus. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 28.

Court records show Woods County Deputy Kyle Fuller was patrolling westbound near the 900 block of East Oklahoma Boulevard at 2:20 a.m. when he saw a gray pickup two vehicles ahead of him. The pickup crossed the center line and then moved back into its lane. He was able to move closer to the vehicle and saw it was straddling the line dividing the two westbound lanes. Fuller activated his emergency lights for a traffic stop.

When he got closer, Fuller observed the gray pickup was a Toyota with a Texas license plate. The pickup turned north onto Lane Street and then turned into the entrance of America’s Best Value Inn, pulling around to the south end of the parking lot and stopping.

Deputy Fuller approached the driver’s side and asked for his driver’s license and insurance verification. The driver provided the insurance verification but said he didn’t have a driver’s license. He said he has been trying to get a license. The driver gave his name as Byron Montepeque and his date of birth. The insurance verification had the same name.

Fuller asked the driver to exit the vehicle and come to his patrol vehicle. Instead, he heard the engine rev up. Montepeque put the pickup in gear and drove away abruptly. Fuller ran to his patrol vehicle and radioed that the driver from his traffic stop had taken off and he was in pursuit.

Fuller saw the pickup pull out of the south exit and turn west on Oklahoma Boulevard. He pulled out to follow and saw Alva Police Officer Ron Vasquez was also on Oklahoma Blvd. going west. Vasquez activated his lights and siren and began following Montepeque at a high rate of speed. Fuller followed.

As they approached Logan Street, Alva Police Officer Brain File turned around from the eastbound lane and joined the pursuit. Vasquez was in front and advised that Montepeque had turned south onto College Blvd. He then saw Montepeque turn west on Monroe.

Vasquez thought he saw Montepeque’s vehicle turn into a nearby apartment complex on Monroe St. and pulled in there. This was not the suspect vehicle.

Fuller continued west on Monroe and turned north onto 8th St. When he reached 8th and Oklahoma Blvd. he turned west with Officer File behind him. After continuing about a mile west, Montepeque was not in sight so Fuller determined to end the pursuit.

About 3:20 a.m. Officer Vasquez reported he had found Montepeque’s vehicle in the parking lot of Vinson Hall on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Fuller met Vasquez there and they cleared the vehicle, not finding anyone inside.

Fuller contacted Woods County Dispatch to send a wrecker company to impound the vehicle. Deputy David Cummings was able to unlock the vehicle through the back passenger window so an inventory search could be performed.

Inside the vehicle was found an open glass bottle of Hennessey brand liquor, a small amount of green leafy substance and a small digital scale with the green leafy substance on it. The green leafy substance field tested positive for marijuana. These items were seized as evidence. Also found was a magazine for a 9mm handgun, but this item was not seized.

Officer Vasquez found a room key for a motel with no name on it. Fuller and Vasquez went to America’s Best Value Inn where Montepeque had originally stopped. The manager at the hotel said he did not have a Byron Montepeque registered there. He allowed them to review surveillance camera footage to see if Montepeque had returned, but he was not seen on the footage.

Approximately 5:40 a.m. Deputy Fuller received a call from Woods County Dispatch that a male subject was at the McDonald’s in Alva wanting to turn himself in to police. Fuller to McDonald’s and found Montepeque sitting inside. He was handcuffed and taken to the Woods County Jail without incident.

Byron Montepeque Jr., 18, of Dallas, Texas, has been charged with three misdemeanors: (1) eluding an officer, (2) driving without a valid driver’s license and (3) reckless driving.