Detective William H. Johnston, Bristow Police Department, Oklahoma

Detective William H. Johnston

Bristow Police Department, Oklahoma

End of Watch Saturday, September 20, 1924

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William H. Johnston

Detective William Johnston was killed in a vehicle crash while pursuing three subjects who had just committed a bank robbery.

The patrol car Detective Johnston was riding in overturned. He suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Two other officers suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Detective Johnston had served with the Bristow Police Department for 12 years.

Bio

Age 57
Tour 12 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Vehicle pursuit
Weapon Automobile
Offender Not available

robbery, single vehicle crash, vehicle pursuit

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Detective William Howard Johnston was my great grandfather. Himself, wife, daughters Donna Lee, Agnus, traveled by horse drawn wagon from Pierce City, MO. taking a year to settle in OK. Indian Territory. He would find work as they traveled. His father was William Harvey Johnston who fought in the Civil War, for the North and was shot in the back paralyzing him from the waist down. His wife was Elizabeth Robinson Johnston was from Virginia, a Southern State, was ousted from her family for marrying a Yankee and never allowed any contact with her family as a result. Detective Johnston was riding on the running board in the chase. Prior to his death, he arrested a Chinese man in a laundry in Okmulgee, OK. Taking a Colt 32 caliber from the man as he reached for the pistol. His daughter Donna was my grandmother. To whom I was very close to. Other stories she told me about him and their travel I don’t quite remember.

Michael Lee Wiley
Great Grand Son

June 2, 2025