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Detective Stabbed While Questioning Brothers About Murder

Dt. James Melson (stabbed by POI) | Dt. Jeff Carter (shot armed suspect)

LOS ANGELES – A Fort Smith police officer was injured Wednesday night after a confrontation with two men wanted for questioning in the death of Briana Ault, 22. Sgt. Daniel Grubbs says investigators obtained cell phones records that showed Elvis Thacker and his brother Jonathan Thacker sent text messages to Ault the night of her death.

“We know Elvis Thacker the one that was actually shot, we know that he had actually had communication with Miss Ault during the early morning hours in this key period when she ended up missing,” said Sgt. Grubbs.

Officers went to the Tulsa Square Apartments on S. 32nd to serve unrelated rape warrants for the Thackers and bring them in for questioning Wednesday night. When they arrived the brothers were armed with knives. “Both of them immediately confronted the officers with knives. One actually stabbed a detective at least multiple times,” said Sgt. Grubbs.

Sgt. Grubbs says the men didn’t comply with detectives and Elvis Thacker stabbed Dt. James Melson multiple times in the upper body. Dt. Jeff Carter then shot Elvis Thacker one time. “The other brother after the shot was fired, which is Jonathan, dropped his weapon and he was taken into custody,” said Sgt. Grubbs.

Both Dt. Melson and Elvis Thacker were taken to local hospitals. Their conditions are not known at this time. Jonathan Thacker was arrested.

Ault’s car was found burning around 5 a.m. Monday on Tulsa Street. Sgt. Grubbs says that’s not far from the apartment complex where the Thackers live. Her naked body was found later in the evening by a fisherman in a pond in Pocola. Police from Pocola, Fort Smith, and investigators with the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation are investigating the crime.

Elvis Thacker is facing an attempted capital murder charge for stabbing the detective, while Jonathan Thacker faces a charge of aggravated assault.

Both detectives have been placed on paid administrative leave.

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