Durant Man Facing Several Charges Following Officer-Involved Shooting & High Speed Chase

BRYAN COUNTY,OK--- A Durant man is facing several charges following last night's officer-involved shooting and high speed chase in Bryan County.
     
They come after the Bryan County Sheriff's Office said it received calls about a burglary in the area known as Black Jack Village, which is located right outside of Durant.

Bryan County Sheriff Ken Golden said when the sheriff's deputies arrived, the man they suspected of committing the burglaries, 32 year-old Spencer Cavendar, jumped behind the wheel of a deputy's patrol car.

Sheriff Golden said he took off and slammed into other vehicles, eventually hitting one resident. He said a sheriff's deputy tried to stop the cruiser by shooting at it, but couldn't.

"The suspect tried to hit him," Sheriff Golden said. "The vehicle then backed into a resident's driveway, actually striking the resident. The deputy again tried to get him to stop. The vehicle came out and the deputy had to jump out of the way again. The vehicle was then able to exit the area."

Cavender led sheriff's deputies and Durant police officers in a high speed chase that ended in Calera near N 6th St. and Smiser Rd. when he crashed the car in a creek.

Cavender was flown to Plano Medical Center for treatment. Today, he was charged with assault & battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny of an automobile and endangering others while eluding a police officer.

Sheriff Golden said there may be others involved in last night's incident. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Bryan County Sheriff's Office and the Durant Police Department are all investigating.