Update: High Speed Pursuit Suspect Charged

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April 30, 2020

By News Director Jared Atha

The man who led multiple departments of law enforcement on a high speed chase through Beckham County earlier this month has been formally charged.

23-year-old Frank Lee Schmidt of Lancaster, California was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, endangering others while eluding or attempt to elude police officers, leaving the scene of an accident involving damage, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

A probable cause affidavit stated that Schmidt led authorities on a pursuit that saw speeds reach up to 100 mph on Interstate 40, Elk City city roads, through personal property, through the community of Merritt, and even going the wrong way on I-40. Court documents stated that Schmidt ran through three fences during the pursuit as well.

An Oklahoma Highway Patrolman was able to perform a tactical vehicle intervention maneuver on the eluding vehicle and disable it on Merritt Road, near I-40.

Court documents stated that after arresting Schmidt, authorities found a marijuana pipe containing residue, a package of marijuana flower, two packages of marijuana, a grinder with residue, two marijuana containers with residue, a glass marijuana pipe with residue, rolling papers and a blunt container with residue.

It was determined that the vehicle Schmidt was driving was reported stolen out of Los Angeles County.

Schmidt’s first court date is scheduled for May 18.