Goats help Tulsa police find burglary suspect

By John Dobberstein, Editor

Tulsa police and a K9 officer were on task recently tracking a burglary suspect in east Tulsa, but it was a herd of ruminants that cracked the case.

Around 6:40 p.m. Friday, officers were called to the area of 1700 S. 79th E. Ave. for a burglary.

The victim said the suspect, later identified as Michael Richardson, was trying to pry open the door of his storage building. The victim said he briefly held Richardson at gunpoint, then Richardson ran off.

Officers found Richardson near a gas station at 21st Street and Memorial Drive, but he took off running into the woods. Officers then set up a perimeter and began searching the area with K9 officers and the Tulsa Police Department helicopter.

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Shortly after, a property owner in the area saw his goats staring a trailer and thought something suspicious was going on. The property owner went to investigate and found Richardson hiding underneath the trailer.

Richardson then jumped over a fence in hopes of escaping but he was apprehended by police officers waiting on the other side.

Richardson was arrested on charges of attempted second-degree burglary, obstruction and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“While we know our officers are the Greatest Of All Time, it really was the GOATS who get the credit on this one,” TPD said in a Facebook post.

As the suspect in this case falls under the McGirt ruling (https://bit.ly/McGirt), the suspect will either be prosecuted in tribal court or federal court.