Kiowa County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 2, 1973
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 2, 1973
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
Deputy Sheriff Max Straub was killed by a man he was transporting to the Western State Hospital at Fort Supply.
The man had committed himself and was being transported to the hospital when he somehow seized the deputy's .357 magnum pistol and shot him three times, including one near the left ear with powder burns and one in the left chest with powder burns.
Witnesses observed the occupants of the patrol car wrestling in the front seat. The vehicle rolled into a ditch and stopped. The suspect exited the car and got on the driver's side, pushing something towards the passenger side and driving off. The vehicle was found about 3/4ths of a mile down the road, and the suspect was walking along the side of the road.
The 25-year-old suspect was sentenced to life in prison.
Deputy Straub had served with the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office for five months and previously served with the Mangum Police Department for over three years. He was survived by his wife, son, mother, father, and brother.