Charges Filed Against Man Arrested Following Norman Chase

Charges have been filed against a man accused of leading Cleveland County deputies on a pursuit while a 2-year-old child was in his vehicle last Friday in a Norman neighborhood. 

According to the Cleveland County Sheriff's office, about 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, deputies went to a home in the 1000 block of Arkansas Street in Norman to serve Joshua Vanderburg, 26, with nine felony warrants and one misdemeanor warrant. Deputies didn't find Vanderburg at the home. Instead, they found three children ages 4, 7 and 12 who were unattended.

The 12-year-old boy told deputies Vanderburg would be back in 10 to 15 minutes, and that he drove a red Ford sport utility vehicle, according to the Sheriff's office.

Two deputies went to search for Vanderburg as the other deputies stayed with the children. A few minutes later, a deputy saw a 2000 Ford Expedition travel west on Arkansas Street. The vehicle turned into a driveway, backed out and began to travel east towards 12th Avenue SE.

Deputies said they tried to initiate a traffic stop at the 12th Avenue intersection. The vehicle was stationary for a few moments before the SUV took off and headed southbound on 12th Avenue. The driver, who was later identified as Vanderburg, turned west onto Missouri. The vehicle turned north on Texas Avenue and traveled through the stop sign at the Arkansas Street intersection.

As the vehicle headed west on Arkansas, three deputies approached the SUV and ordered Vanderburg to stop. Vanderburg reportedly then stopped the SUV.

Deputies arrested Vanderburg and discovered a 2-year-old boy in a rear passenger seat. Due to the dark window tint on the vehicle, deputies didn't see the child until the vehicle doors were open, according to the Sheriff's office.

When deputies asked Vanderburg for his identification, he gave deputies a family member's name. Jail records confirmed the relative was already incarcerated at the Cleveland County Detention Center. Vanderburg then provided deputies with his real name.

In addition to the 10 warrants, Vanderburg was arrested on complaints of eluding a peace officer, child endangerment, false impersonation, driving under suspension/revocation and failure to carry insurance verification. He was booked in CCDC.

Vanderburg was charged Monday in Cleveland County District Court with crimes relating to the April 24 arrest. He remained in custody Tuesday.

All four children were placed in protective custody, according to the Sheriff's office.