Oklahoma man who stole deputy’s car gets a 9-year sentence
The Oklahoma City resident was sentenced Friday to nine years for his penchant for stealing cars.
A Garfield County Sheriff’s Department deputy encountered a sleeping Gurney in a stolen car in January, then Gurney fled in the deputy’s patrol car after he was arrested.
Gurney, 34, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and stealing an automobile, as well as a misdemeanor count of attempted escape from a police officer.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison on each of the felony counts as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Those terms will run concurrently with a one-year term on the misdemeanor count.
Gurney was arrested Jan. 13 after leading a deputy on a 20-minute chase at speeds exceeding 100 mph after allegedly stealing the patrol car.
Deputy Matt Mixon had encountered Gurney near the intersection of Garland and Wheat Capitol, where the other man was sleeping in a car that later was learned to have been stolen from Kansas, according to court documents.
The deputy arrested Gurney after Gurney gave him a false name, then proceeded to search the other man’s car, the affidavit states.
Gurney, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, somehow managed to slip his hands around to the front and drive off in Mixon’s car, according to the affidavit.
Mixon fired six shots at the fleeing vehicle, which still housed the deputy’s loaded shotgun and assault rifle, before giving chase in the 1995 Eagle Vision the other man had been driving, the affidavit states.
The chase ended once Gurney turned off Oklahoma 132 onto Oklahoma 51 when Mixon bumped the car, forcing Gurney to lose control, according to the affidavit. The car rolled about five times.
Gurney apparently was ejected and tried to flee on foot, but Mixon caught up to him at a nearby residence, the affidavit states.