Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers, aided by multiple county sheriffs, concluded a three‑day search for Michael Nathan Dale Garrett on Thursday, after the suspect was found hiding inside a home that was partially demolished near Rush Springs.
Manhunt origins
The pursuit began Tuesday when Bryan County deputies responded to a burglary gone wrong in the town of Mead. According to Bryan County Sheriff Joey Tucker, Garrett fired at a homeowner and deputies before fleeing the scene, shattering a bathroom window in the process. No injuries were reported, and deputies returned fire only after the suspect emerged from a tree line, though they could not see him clearly.
Search effort expands
Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett released photos of Garrett on Tuesday, describing the 6‑foot, 180‑pound man with brown hair, a gray T‑shirt, shorts and a black backpack. The following day, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office added that a possible sighting involved Garrett on a stolen side‑by‑side vehicle near Foster.
By Thursday, law‑enforcement teams from Bryan, Garvin and Stephens counties converged on a property at the corner of County Road 1530 and County Street 2920, roughly nine miles east of Rush Springs. At least four tactical vehicles and an excavator arrived on scene. The excavator was used to tear down the majority of the structure, allowing officers to locate Garrett inside.
Arrest and background
Sky 5 with KOCO, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City, captured video of the operation as officers secured the suspect. Garrett, who has an extensive criminal record, was most recently charged on Oct. 30 with two counts of second‑degree burglary and a felon‑in‑possession‑of‑firearm charge after breaking into a church in Durant. He posted bond on Nov. 2.
Garvin County deputies also detained a woman who claimed she dropped Garrett off along Highway 29 between Pauls Valley and Elmore City on Tuesday. While authorities could not confirm his presence at that location, the tip helped focus the search.
Community impact
The aggressive response underscores the cooperation among Oklahoma’s law‑enforcement agencies when public safety is threatened. Residents of the surrounding rural area expressed relief that the dangerous suspect was apprehended without further violence.
Sheriff Tucker emphasized that the coordinated effort, including the use of armored vehicles and heavy equipment, was necessary to protect both deputies and civilians while bringing a violent offender to justice.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
