Michael Dustin Holsey
A McClain County inmate who escaped while being treated at a Purcell hospital and fled in a stolen vehicle early Saturday morning was arrested a short time later at a gas station along Interstate 35 in Pauls Valley.
The situation started when Michael Dustin Holsey Jr., 22, was taken to the Purcell hospital for treatment of injuries early Saturday morning, according to authorities.
Holsey had been booked into the McClain County Jail Friday and was being held on charges of first-degree burglary and obstructing an investigation, according to the McClain County Sheriff’s Office.
With his restraints removed for treatment, Holsey was able to escape custody and fled the hospital just before 7 a.m. He then stole a vehicle and left the area, heading south on Interstate 35.
After crossing into Garvin County, Holsey lost control of the vehicle and crashed in the median, possibly due to heavy rain falling at the time. When another motorist stopped to assist the wrecked vehicle, Holsey carjacked that pickup and continued south on I-35, leaving its driver stranded on the side of the road.
When he reached the Pauls Valley exit, he pulled off into the pump area of a gas station on the west side of I-35 and parked. There Pauls Valley Police Officers identified the vehicle, and Holsey was taken into custody without further incident with assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Garvin County Sheriff’s Office and the McClain County Sheriff’s Office.
Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett said no one was injured during the escape and Holsey did not use any weapons during the incident other than physical force.
Details of incident are still under investigation, according to McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter, but authorities said Holsey will likely face additional charges in McClain County related to the escape, as well as new charges in Garvin County connected to the carjacking.
“I’m just glad we caught him, and no one was hurt,” Offolter said.