November 24, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
An Elk City man was charged in Beckham County recently with, among other things, possession of a stolen vehicle after being accused of stealing a pickup from the yard of a recently closed oilfield company.
According to a probable cause affidavit, 39-year-old John William Standingwater was charged last week after police discovered that he was in possession of the vehicle in August.
The report stated that while on patrol, police observed Standingwater walking from a four door white work pickup in a suspicious manner to his apartment. Police would note that they have had previous encounters with Standingwater that involved the use and sale of illegal narcotics, mainly methamphetamine and with stolen property.
During the investigation process the officer would discover that the apportioned Oklahoma vehicle registration number of the pickup was factious and did not return to the pickup. After checking the vehicle’s VIN number through dispatch, the officer was advised that the pickup was registered to a local oilfield services company that had recently gone out of business.
An attempt to make contact with the suspect was unsuccessful.
During a search of the vehicle, police reported to have found two cellphones – one of which believed to be a “burner” phone, and a set of digital scales which appeared to be covered in suspected methamphetamine residue, and other suspected drug paraphernalia.
The officer would have the truck towed.
The document stated that on the same day police would investigate the closed business and would observe that it appeared that the office area had been gone through. The officer also noted that multiple doors to the business were unlocked. Officers also observed several decals that are normally applied to the side of vehicles were discarded on the floor.
After speaking with the owner of the business, it was determined that not one but three pickups were missing from the yard. Police discovered that one had been recovered by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol near Clinton, the other was the vehicle recovered in Elk City, however the third vehicle still remained missing.
Along with the felony charge of possession of a stolen vehicle, Standingwater was also charged with knowingly concealing stolen property and removing proper or affixing improper license plate.
Bond for Standingwater was set for $10,000.
