Editor

One suspect has been arrested and an arrest warrant has been issued for another charged in the May 2023 break-in of a Sallisaw dispensary.

Dustin E. Chavez, 35, of Shawnee, and Tyler Woodall, 31, address unknown, have each been charged with felony second-degree burglary, larceny, burglary or theft of controlled dangerous substance, and conspiracy to commit a felony. The charges were filed July 5 in Sequoyah County District Court.

Chavez is scheduled for an August 30 arraignment and a warrant has been issued for Woodall’s arrest.

Sallisaw Police officer Joe Lufkin reported at 4:34 a.m. on May 12, he was dispatched to the Flight 420 medical marijuana dispensary on Cherokee Ave. in regards to a commercial alarm going off and found the side doors broken.

Police reported finding a bottle neck jack just inside the door that appeared to have been used to break the glass. Officers also located several items leading from the inside, out the door, and to the rear of the dispensary, along with tire tracks in the grass behind the business.

Authorities also found two tubs containing products from the business behind a counter. Lufkin reported the tubs’ latching mechanisms appeared to have been pried and forced open, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When the owners of the dispensary arrived, Detective Andrew Edwards began reviewing video footage which reportedly showed a man walking into the store after breaking the glass. The man can then be seen running around inside, seeking items to take. The man then leaves the store with a tote full of products from the dispensary, re-enters and then leaves with a second tote full of items.

Edwards was able to obtain video surveillance from an adjoining business which showed the vehicle the man was driving, and confirmed there were two suspects involved instead of one.

Edwards then checked with a local convenience store and was able to obtain video footage which reportedly showed the suspect’s vehicle at the gas pumps at around 3 a.m. The two subjects can then be seen walking into the store where their images were captured, wearing the same clothing as they were when the dispensary was allegedly broken into.

On May 26, the two men were identified as Chavez and Woodall.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said second-degree burglary is punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years; while larceny, burglary or theft of controlled dangerous substance is punishable by 10 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine; and conspiracy to commit a felony is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.