Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Earlier today, a criminal complaint was unsealed charging JAMES WILLIAMS, 60, from Del City, Oklahoma, with assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, on June 26, 2014, law enforcement on Tinker Air Force Base received a report of a man acting in a suspicious manner in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) on base. It is alleged that while law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop the SUV fled and a high speed chase ensued. It is alleged that when a Senior Airman attempted to close the gate to prevent the SUV from exiting the base the driver of the SUV accelerated towards the Airman nearly striking her with the vehicle as it exited the installation. It is alleged that law enforcement for Tinker Air Force Base and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle at speeds over 100 miles per hour. The SUV was later identified as belonging to Williams.
Williams was arrested on July 29, 2014, and appeared before a United States Magistrate Judge in Oklahoma City earlier today. A preliminary hearing is set Aug. 15, 2014.
If convicted, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Don Gifford II.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
