A pre-preliminary hearing has been continued for a driver on the Turner Turnpike who faces a felony and misdemeanor for allegedly using her vehicle in discharge of a weapon.
A four-year-old child also was discovered in the backseat of the woman’s vehicle after a state trooper stopped her on the turnpike.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Jan. 25 against Taj’unique Johnnice Owens, 25, of Oklahoma City.
Her bond was set at $25,000. She made her initial appearance before Special Judge Emily Mueller on Jan. 26. The judge scheduled her to return with an attorney on April 13 for a prepreliminary hearing.
That hearing has been continued until 1:30 p.m. June 22.
In Count 1, Owens is charged with the felony of use of vehicle in discharge of a weapon. She is accused on Jan. 18 this year of discharging a pistol from her vehicle in conscious disregard for the safety of the people around her.
Count2,amisdemeanor, charges her on the same date of leaving the scene of an accident on the Turner Turnpike at mile marker 154 in Lincoln County in which the vehicle she was driving struck and resulted in damage to a car driven by Robert Chapman.
In a probable cause affidavit, State Trooper Wayne Linzy reported that on Jan. 18 shortly before 9 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol dispatch received a call for assistance from a driver on the turnpike, Robert Chapman, who said he was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle.
After the vehicles collided, the other vehicle refused to stop and fired approximately three shots from a pistol while that vehicle was in motion continuing to leave westbound, Chapman reported.
Chapman told the trooper he thought that action was an attempt to scare him away and prevent him from identifying the vehicle or driver.
Chapman reportedly continued to follow the suspect vehicle westbound keeping view of the vehicle while in contact with OHP dispatch.
Linzy states in the affidavit he went to mile marker 136.5 and took a radar reading that showed Owens was traveling 91 miles per hour.
Linzy stopped Owens’ vehicle and informed her of the shooting allegation, asking her if there was a firearm in the vehicle. The trooper said although he asked, he could see there was a pistol in plain view in a purse on the passenger seat.
It was a semi-automatic pistol and was in the cocked position. Owens reportedly tried to reach for the pistol and Linzy removed the entire purse from within the vehicle for safety.
Trooper Matthew Ludwig joined Linzy at the scene. Linzy advised Owens she was being detained for investigation of the incident and collision and Ludwig detained Owens.
Linzy spotted a small child in the back seat of the vehicle who was Owens’ daughter, age 4.
At least one spent round casing was located on the driver side floor of Owens’ vehicle corroborating the discharge of the pistol, Linzy stated.
Owens was placed under arrest and Trooper Ludwig transported her to the Lincoln County Jail, where she was booked.