A Sapulpa man was arrested after his gun went off in the bathroom of the local Rib Crib (705 S Mission), prompting a response and search from Sapulpa police.
According to the arrest affidavit, police were called to the restaurant at about 8:30pm on January 31st when an employee said they’d heard a “loud bang” come from the restroom and then observed a white male in a green baseball cap and Oklahoma Sooners hoodie leaving the room.
The employee walked into the bathroom and saw a bullet hole in the mirror. Another employee identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jakob Gartrell, who was said to be leaving the Rib Crib in a silver sedan. Officer Cansas Pate recovered a .40 caliber bullet casing at the scene.
Later that evening, another officer spotted a vehicle matching the car’s description and made a traffic stop. Officer Nichols said the driver was “visibly nervous” and struggled to answer her questions. The driver was later positively identified as Gartrell.
According to the arrest affidavit, Gartrell admitted to having a gun in his waistband, and Officer Nichols said she noticed the smell of alcohol and “blood-shot, watery eyes.” Two others in the vehicle told Officer Nichols that Gartrell had told them he had “popped off a round in the bathroom.”
A search of the vehicle uncovered three empty bottles of alcohol, as well as the hoodie and baseball cap Gartrell had been seen wearing at the restaurant.
Gartrell was arrested on charges of “discharge of a firearm in a public place,” and “carrying a firearm under the influence.” A check of his criminal history showed no previous weapons-related charges.
