HARRAH, OKLAHOMA – A 24-year-old man accused of stealing copper from a vacant home escaped a deputy by crashing through a closed glass window, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. Rayven Wooten was later identified through a backpack he left behind and taken into custody. He now faces charges of burglary, resisting arrest, and obstructing an officer. Body camera video captured the moment he fled.
Deputy Finds Suspect Stripping Copper Inside Vacant Sunset Lane Home
Deputies were called on the evening of October 1 to a reported burglary at a vacant property on Sunset Lane near Harrah and Britton roads. The responding deputy found the rear door had been forced open. Body camera timestamps show the encounter happened around 6 p.m.
Inside, the deputy encountered Wooten, who was allegedly removing copper from appliances and walls. Copper wiring and pipes are frequent targets for thieves because the metal can be sold for scrap. Vacant homes are often targeted since thefts can go unnoticed for longer.
Suspect Ignores Commands and Dives Through Closed Window
Body camera footage shows the deputy entering the home with his firearm drawn and ordering the man to turn around and get down on his knees. The suspect did not follow the commands. The video shows him standing in the kitchen with his hands raised.
When the deputy told him again to get on his knees, the man moved into another room, ran toward a window, and crashed through the glass. He got away before the deputy could take him into custody. The dramatic escape was captured on the deputy’s body camera.
Backpack With California Driver’s License Leads Investigators to Suspect
Authorities searched the surrounding area with a patrol vehicle and an aerial drone and checked a nearby home. The initial search did not turn up the suspect. Harrah is a small city east of Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County.
Investigators later identified Wooten using a backpack he left at the property, which contained a California-issued driver’s license. That key piece of evidence helped deputies track him down. Whether he was injured by the broken glass has not been reported.
Wooten Charged With Burglary, Resisting Arrest, and Obstruction
KFOR reported on October 13 that Wooten had been taken into custody. He was charged with burglary, resisting arrest, and obstructing an officer. Details on where and how he was arrested were not released.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson told KOCO that Wooten has a prior criminal history in Oklahoma County involving theft-related offenses, drug-related matters, and an assault charge. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The case is expected to move forward in Oklahoma County court.
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