By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Police Department arrested a man accused of punching an officer after stealing from a south Tulsa QuikTrip.
Police said officers responded to a disturbance at the QuikTrip near East 51st Street South and South Sheridan Road around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday.
The caller reported a man was harassing people inside the store and outside by the gas pumps.
Officers arrived and learned from witnesses that the suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Stephen Atchley, went behind the counter at QuikTrip and stole a pack of cigarettes and multiple lighters.
Police said an officer found Atchley walking southbound and told him to stop, but he continued walking.
When the officer grabbed Atchley by the arm, he turned around and punched the officer multiple times in the face.
The officer took Atchley to the ground and was wrestling with him when a citizen on a bicycle passed by, saw the altercation and helped the officer.
Police said more officers arrived and took Atchley into custody. The citizen who helped the officer rode away on his bicycle before officers could thank him.
The officer did not receive significant injuries during the altercation.
Atchley was arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail for assault and battery on a police officer, third-degree burglary, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
