By Tim Farley, News Editor – A Sallisaw man who rammed two Yukon police cars and was shot at by one officer has been charged in Canadian County District Court with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The charges were filed Aug. 22.
Prosecutors filed two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Laddie Louis Polasek, 55, of Karnes City, Texas, was booked into the Canadian County Jail Aug. 11 after leading Yukon police on a brief chase around Garth Brooks Boulevard and deliberately crashing into two patrol vehicles. A police officer shot the pickup Polasek was driving. Several shots were fired, Police Chief John Corn said. The suspect was not injured, but was immediately taken into custody.
The officer, identified as ReShard Ellis, remains on paid administrative leave until the shooting investigation is concluded. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation, which should be completed in about a week to 10 days. At that time, Canadian County District Attorney Mike Fields will decide if the shooting was justified, Corn said.
Polasek remains in the Canadian County Jail. Prosecutors have filed a request to increase the defendant’s bond, which was previously set at $31,000.
The encounter started when a Yukon officer tried to stop Polasek after noticing the man was driving erratically near Integris Canadian Valley Hospital. According to police, Polasek stopped his vehicle when the officer turned on his siren and lights. However, Polaske quickly placed his 2016 GMC Sierra pickup in reverse, rammed the officer’s patrol car and drove away.
Polasek led several Yukon officers on a low-speed chase around the health center complex. At one point, officers tried to stop Polasek by placing their vehicles in front of his pickup, but the suspect eluded police as the chase continued.
The suspect pulled into the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn at 1520 Garth Brooks Boulevard. Moments later, Polasek rammed another patrol car. At that point, an officer pulled rifle and fired at the suspect striking the pickup and windshield. Polasek was not hit by the gunfire.
Officers quickly removed the suspect from the pickup and handcuffed him.
Investigators with the Yukon police and the OSBI are collecting video evidence from surrounding businesses in the area and statements from employees at the Fairfield Inn.
Three years ago in McIntosh County, Polasek was booked on misdemeanor complaints of trespassing and assault on a police officer.
