Guthrie Plumber Takes Thief Down

A plumber fights back and takes down a thief who police said was involved in several thefts around the state.

Friday afternoon, Elwin Patman recalled the confrontation he had with 60-year old Daniel Farrow after he caught Farrow rummaging through his plumbing equipment. Patman said he pulled up to his house then saw a stranger in his backyard. Patman said the suspect pulled out a screwdriver and started swinging.

"I was upset at the fact that he was stealing from me, but when he tried to stab me, that took it to another level," explained Patman.

According to Guthrie Police spokesman Mark Bruning, police arrested Farrow on two burglary complaints and assault with a dangerous weapon. They said Patman actually chased Farrow down the street and pointed him out to police when they arrived on the scene. They found Farrow hiding two blocks down from Patman's house.

Police said Farrow was highly intoxicated when they took him into custody.

Patman recalled the scuffle with Farrow. "He approached me with a screwdriver and tried to stab me with it," he said. "I fend him off and then we rough and tussle, got him to the ground and, basically, I beat him up."

In Farrow's booking photo, the injuries he suffered in the fight are visible. Patman said he blocked Farrow's first swing with the screwdriver, then punched the suspect in the face.

Patman said his plumbing tools were worth upwards of $1,000 and if they had been stolen, he wouldn't have been able to do his job for the extra money.

"It's very annoying, very annoying," said Patman. "I mean even if it wasn't my livelihood, I don't want him taking anything from me I used my hard-earned money to buy."

Bruning said the suspect had been in trouble with the law before. He was arrested in 1990 for an armed robbery of the Love's in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He served a 15-year sentence for the crime. Bruning added that a DNA sample from prison matched a sample taken from a recent crime scene in the area. The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation said the sample matched Farrow.

Farrow was also wanted for questioning in a string of thefts in the Stillwater area. Police described Farrow on Friday as a career criminal and said they are happy he is off the streets.

Bruning also explained that police do not encourage anyone to confront thieves in the act because it could be dangerous for the victims. Instead, they advise keeping your distance and calling 9-1-1.