Watch: Accused Copper Thief Escapes Okla. Deputy by Diving Through Closed Glass Window

When an Oklahoma County sheriff's deputy confronted an alleged copper thief in a vacant home, the suspect suddenly sprinted across a room and crashed through a closed glass window instead of being arrested.
Oct. 15, 2026
2 min read
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What to Know

  • An Oklahoma County sheriff's deputy caught a man allegedly stealing copper from a vacant home, but the suspect escaped by diving through a closed glass window.
  • The deputy searched for the suspect with a cruiser and drone but was unable to find him after the dramatic escape.
  • The suspect left behind a backpack containing his driver's license, helping investigators identify him and seek charges.

Key Takeaways

  • Habit formation around camera use typically takes around eight weeks but can be complicated by ingrained behaviors.
  • Policies must be carefully examined and updated to prevent cameras from causing delays or safety risks, ensuring officers can respond without hesitation.

Check out this story for more about bodycams and decision-making.

A man accused of trying to steal copper from a home escaped an Oklahoma deputy by diving through a closed glass window earlier this month. But an item he left behind led to his capture.

The incident happened just after 6 p.m. Oct. 1 when an Oklahoma County deputy responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a vacant home, according to the sheriff's office, which released body camera footage of the encounter. When the deputy reached the scene, he discovered a suspect, later identified as Rayven Lee Wooten, stealing copper from the home's appliances.

Gun drawn, the deputy confronted Wooten, who put his hands up. But as the deputy was responding to radio calls, Wooten—who, the sheriff's office said, "missed his calling as a Hollywood stuntman"— ran across the room and crashed through a glass window.

"This is an experienced deputy, he'd never seen anything quite like it before, and by the time that he got outside, our suspect was long gone," Aaron Brilbeck, the agency's public information officer, said during a news conference.

The deputy searched for Wooten in his cruiser. He also deployed a drone but couldn't locate the suspect.

In his effort to make a sudden, improvised escape, however, Wooten left behind a bicycle and a backpack. Inside the backpack was Wooten's driver's license.

"He was good enough to leave behind his backpack, and inside his backpack was his driver's license, so it made it really easy to identify him," Brilbeck said.

Despite the recovery of the abandoned license, authorities have not apprehended Wooten, who faces multiple charges, including burglary, resisting arrest and obstructing an officer.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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