The Drag in Elk City is capitalized for a reason. Those who grew up in or around the area say it as though it is a proper noun.
“Where’s your son?” “Oh, he is with his friends on the Drag.” This conversation has happened in generations of Beckham County homes. The concept of the Drag goes back to the earliest days of automobiles with teenage drivers.
Kids want to get away from the watchful eyes of parents and around their peers. Showing of their rides is an added bonus.
I went on the same Drag my parents did, and now my own children have joined into the long-held western Oklahoma tradition.
The area starts at Auto Zone, heading east on Third Street before turning south on Main Street to the Stouts and Sons Pawn Shop parking lot where kids make a turn.
They drive back north down Main before heading back west toward the turn-around at Auto Zone.
The stars of the show are obviously the two turn-arounds and, of course, the biggest hitter is that turn at the town’s biggest intersection.
But, recently, social media posts lit up that a much older man, a registered sex offender, had been cruising these streets and talking to minor children.
The community acted and he is in jail. Major John Cook reported, “Christopher Lee Pitts DOB: 12/20/1980 was arrested Saturday December 30, 2023 at 21:48 at the AutoZone in Elk City, Oklahoma for Failure To Register as a sex offender. Per Title 57 Section 583 of the Oklahoma Statute, Pitts is to register with Local Law Enforcement within 3 days of residing or intending to remain for more than 7 consecutive days or 14 days in a 60-day period or longer.
Reports and complaints from the public began surfacing of a “sex offender” being on the Drag during the night with local juveniles. An investigation began at this time in which Patrolman Quesada took the lead and was very thorough in his documentation of the interactions with Pitts over time to demonstrate a continued pattern and to assure the case against Pitt would survive court and the legal process. At no time was the Police Department aware of any specific threat posed by Pitts.
The Department would like to thank those people in the community that were concerned about these incidents and their desire to maintain a secure environment for our children. Any additional information that may be useful in this investigation can be forwarded to the Elk City Police Department. We would also like a shout out to Patrolman Quesada for his diligent efforts.
Chistopher Pitts is designated as an aggravated offender and has been registering in the county of Washita. The city of Elk City, Beckham County has had no notification of Pitts registering in our jurisdiction. Charges are pending in Beckham County.”
