When he heard of a 911 call involving a serious car accident with injuries on May 7, Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Darrin Lancaster stopped pursuing a speeder and headed in the opposite direction. Speeds reached 120 mph. No accident was found, and Lancaster said in court papers that the 911 call was a diversionary tactic to prevent him from catching the motorist he was pursuing. Steven Mathis has been charged with misdemeanor counts of false reporting of a crime, obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties and making a false 911 call.
Lancaster was one of about 18 law and rescue officers to arrive at the scene of the reported accident. No wreck was ever found. Lancaster stopped at a house where he saw several people outside to ask them whether any had seen a car speed by, he said. All of them, including Mathis, denied seeing a car, and Lancaster said he continued his pursuit.
Lancaster said he later talked with Mathis, who said he recognized the car the trooper was chasing.
After Lancaster left, Mathis said a friend, Bo Ginder, told him they needed to prevent the trooper from catching their friend, and Ginder gave him his cellphone, the affidavit said. Mathis said he dialed 911 and reported a head-on crash in Cherokee, Lancaster said in his affidavit. (info from dumbcrooks.com)
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