Former Oklahoma Deputy Charged with Faking Pursuit and Shooting

A former Oklahoma deputy is facing criminal charges after investigators said he faked a high-speed pursuit and officer-involved shooting.

“Everybody’s going to make mistakes. When you cross the line, different story,” said Sheriff Mike Booth of Pottawatomie County.

Sheriff Booth was talking about his former deputy, Taylor Smith, who resigned during the investigation.

Body camera footage from September 2021 showed him driving over 100 mph, during an alleged pursuit while on his phone and driving with his knee, KFOR reports.

According to court documents, during the chase Smith said he saw “A black male passenger armed with a long gun.” Smith said he followed.

“I’m in a foot pursuit,” he said on body camera footage. “He has a rifle, large back up. It was the front seat passenger. Red shirt, black male.”

“He said the guy hopped over a fence into this big field,” said Sheriff Booth. “As he approached the fence, this guy started shooting at him so he returned fire.”

Investigators said they never saw the suspect on the body camera footage. They also never heard the suspect’s alleged gunshots, but they heard Smith’s.