Tulsa World: Local, State Briefs

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Local, State Briefs

By Staff Reports & NewsOK.com
Published: 10/23/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 10/23/2009 5:01 AM

Bandit makes off with cash from credit union

A man hid in the bushes outside a Tulsa credit union Thursday morning, ambushed an employee as she arrived at work and then robbed the business.

The man fled with an undisclosed amount of cash from the Oklahoma Members First Federal Credit Union, 10832 E. 31st St.

The bandit was hiding in the bushes and using a tree limb for additional cover when the employee arrived at work, Sgt. Dave Walker said. She didn't see anything suspicious, so she went to open the door.

The man then jumped out and forced her inside. The employee told police that he pressed something that felt like a gun to her head as he forced her to open the vault.

Police found pieces of a broken replica gun inside, Walker said.

The man is about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask, black coveralls, white-and-black tennis shoes, and gloves.

Some cash was recovered from a creek bed just south of the business.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS, send a text message to police or submit an online tip at tulsaworld.com/crimestoppers.

Callers can be anonymous, and the Crime Commission offers rewards for information that leads to arrests.

— Nicole Marshall, World staff writer

Six injured in crash of prisoner transport van

Six people were injured when a prisoner transport van crashed on Interstate 244 late Wednesday.

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the crash happened about 11 p.m. when the van hydroplaned in the rain.

Another vehicle slowed down because of the crash and was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer rig. No one was injured in that subsequent wreck.

EMSA sent four ambulances to the scene, spokeswoman Tina Wells said. Paramedics took six women, who ranged in age from 28 to 60, to St. John Medical Center for further evaluation, she said.

All of the patients were in fair condition with minor injuries.

Additionally, EMSA medics evaluated a 24-year-old man at the scene, but he refused treatment and transport, Wells said.

-Staff Reports

Display on domestic violence on exhibit

Noting that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, DVIS/Call Rape is inviting the public to its Oklahoma Silent Witness 2009 display.

The event, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Tulsa Community College's Southeast Campus, is part of a national initiative to honor people who were killed by current or former intimate partners.

Life-size red silhouettes will be displayed, each representing someone who was killed. More than 200 people ranging in age from 3 months to 77 years will be honored in the display.

— Mike Averill, World staff writer

52-year-old washer and dryer bound for museum

SAND SPRINGS — A Sand Springs woman recently called Maytag Appliances about repairing a door latch on her mother's clothes dryer.

Now the set is headed to the Maytag Museum.

The pink laundry set is 52 years old — having been bought in 1957 by Torchy Wolfe as a Mother's Day present for her mother, Jane Thompson.

The set still works like new, and, except for the door latch, there has never been a problem, Wolfe said.

When Maytag learned about the set, the company offered Thompson a new washer and dryer in exchange.

But the old set works so well that Thompson took three weeks before deciding to accept the offer — with a condition: If the new ones don't work as well, she wants the old set back.

Maytag plans to display the 1957 set at its museum in Benton Harbor, Mich.

-Associated Press

Cushing triple-murder suspect gets life term

STILLWATER — A man who is accused of fatally shooting three people in Cushing has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Robert Chad Lansford-Barela pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of first-degree murder.

Payne County prosecutors were seeking the death penalty for Lansford-Barela, who was charged in the Feb. 17 shooting deaths of Elizabeth Hueser, Douglass Peck and Albert Sernas.

All three victims were found dead in Peck's home in Cushing.

Police said Lansford-Barela told them he shot Peck and Sernas because they had given information to police on another case.

According to police, he told them he shot Hueser because she witnessed the killings.

Attempts to reach the district attorney and Barela's attorney weren't successful Thursday.

-Associated Press

Rescued-dog adoption a tail-wagging success

SHAWNEE — Friendly wags were exchanged between John Rawls' old best friend, Russell, and a newly adopted canine companion, Elliot.

The two labradoodles met at an adoption fair Thursday where Elliot was one of about 100 dogs rescued from a Bethel Acres puppy mill.

The front entrance of The Shawnee News-Star was crowded with people throughout the day as dogs were dropped off to be picked up for adoption. Most of dogs were chosen before they were unloaded from the truck.

Newspaper employees coordinated the adoption fair after learning of the rescue effort from a home business in Bethel Acres.

The woman who owned them had taken over the business after her husband died three years ago and was overwhelmed, said Alan Baxter, co-founder of the Tri-County Humane Society, based in Tecumseh.

News of the adoption effort attracted people from across the state, and by 4:30 p.m., about 90 dogs had new homes.

To reach the Tri-County Humane Society about adopting a dog, call (405) 618-0010 or (405) 397-9057.

— Ann Kelley, The Oklahoman

11-year-old girl found dead was strangled

The state Medical Examiner's Office has reported that an 11-year-old girl found dead in her aunt's home in southern Oklahoma was likely strangled.

Dakota Hughes was found dead early Sunday by her aunt in Cartwright. A spokeswoman for the medical examiner said the probable cause of death was asphyxiation by strangulation.

Authorities have arrested Jason Lee Belew of Sherman, Texas, and prosecutors have charged him with first-degree murder in connection with the girl's death.

Authorities say Belew was a friend of the girl's aunt.

Belew is currently being held in the Bryan County (Texas) Jail. It wasn't known if he has yet hired an attorney.

-Associated Press By Staff Reports & NewsOK.com

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