Clinton, OK — A Clinton man is facing multiple charges after leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase through residential areas in the early morning hours of May 31, 2025.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Custer County District Attorney’s Office, Cody Glen Shoptaw, 35, was charged with felony endangerment while eluding a police officer and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license.
The incident began around 2:29 a.m. when an officer with the Clinton Police Department spotted a maroon 1980 Chevy Chevette driving erratically near the intersection of North 10th Street and Gary Boulevard. The vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and sped off when the officer attempted a traffic stop.
Shoptaw, later identified as the sole occupant of the vehicle, reportedly ignored multiple stop signs, fishtailed around corners, nearly hit another vehicle head-on, and drove without a license plate. The vehicle, which was determined to have never been registered or insured, was confirmed to belong to Shoptaw via its VIN.
The chase stretched across several city streets including South 9th Street, Broadway Avenue, 4th Street, and Modelle Avenue, with the officer noting that Shoptaw was nearly losing control of the vehicle multiple times. The pursuit ended near Commerce Road after the vehicle came to a stop and began rolling backward into the front of the patrol car.
Shoptaw was arrested and transported to the Clinton City Jail. Authorities later confirmed his driver’s license was suspended by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The misdemeanor charge carries a potential penalty of up to one year in jail and a $500 fine.
His next court appearance is scheduled for June 23, 2025.
