A former Pittsburg County jailer, who was named a Detention Officer of the Year in 2024, was arrested June 21 and is charged with attempted robbery with a weapon and child neglect.

Jose Kirkes, 33, of McAlester, is alleged to have attempted to rob Lakeside Pharmacy in Eufaula. A clerk reportedly fled through the back door of the store to get her gun from her car, closely followed by the suspect. When the clerk reached her vehicle, the suspect reportedly turned and fled.

The suspect was identified by witnesses who got the fleeing vehicle’s tag number.

Eufaula Police Sgt. Sam Shelton contacted the Pittsburg County Sheriff ’s Office and asked that if officers made contact with the suspect to take him into custody and hold him and Eufaula officers would extradite him.

Later that day he was arrested by Pittsburg County deputies and booked into the Pittsburg County Jail, where he was picked up by Eufaula Police Sgt. Josh Cummings.

Kirkes’ juvenile son reportedly was in the back seat of the suspect’s pickup during the attempted robbery.