Two Face Drug Charges After Car Chase

A Feb. 3 car chase ended with two arrests in Vian, according to reports.

Records show that Carl Dean Porter II, 31, of Muldrow and 26-year-old Jessica McClendon, 26, of Marble City are facing several felony charges in the incident.

On Feb. 3, a Sallisaw police officer spotted a speeding vehicle on North Maple Street. When the vehicle went past him, the officer noticed that it had a cracked windshield and a tag light that was out.

The vehicle nearly struck the officer’s patrol car as it sped away, prompting the officer to give chase. The vehicle began traveling west on Cherokee Avenue and turned north on South 4570 Road at the top of McKey Hill. Traveling at speeds approaching 90 mph, the vehicle passed cars and drove through a four-way intersection without slowing down.

When the road eventually ended, the vehicle rammed a large steel gate, then continued north on a private driveway and into a creek, where it became stuck.

Once the vehicle came to rest, the driver, later identified as Porter, exited the vehicle and threw a plastic bag on the ground. Porter then tried to run from the scene but was hampered by the slippery terrain.

Inside the plastic bag, officers found 21 grams of crystallized, white substance. A check of the car’s license plate revealed that the tag and the vehicle had been stolen in Conway, Ark. Porter was also found to have had his driving privileges suspended in Oklahoma, as well as a lengthy history of eluding officers.

Porter and McClendon were taken to the Sallisaw City Jail. 

The two were charged with trafficking in illegal drugs. In addition to those charges, McClendon was hit with charges for knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property, a felony, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Porter’s charges include endangering others while eluding a police officer, unauthorized use of a vehicle, escape from felony arrest or detention, all felonies, and misdemeanor counts of malicious injury to property under $1,000, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with license canceled/suspended/revoked.

The penalty for drug trafficking is up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Endangering others while eluding is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years. The unauthorized use of a vehicle carries a penalty of imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for up to two years. Escape from felony arrest is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

Porter’s three misdemeanor charges each carry punishments of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $500 or both.

McClendon’s penalty for knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property is imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for up to five years, or in the county jail for up to one year and/or a fine of up to $500. Her punishment for misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession is imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

McClendon’s bond was set at $15,000. She and Porter are due back in court at 9 a.m. March 11.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com