Injured in shooting last summer Officer Nolan Mancera returns to duty

Struck at close range by a bullet in the shooting outside the Hilton Garden Inn on June 18, Officer Nolan Mancera spent the last four months recovering from his wound, probably thanking his lucky stars, and undoubtedly champing at the bit to return to patrol.

Mancera was shot after he and Lt. David Virijevich were attempting to speak with a suspicious male subject on Gateway Blvd. It was a bright, sunny day and Mancera and Virijevich had no reason to think that this suspicious subject was different from any of the scores of suspicious subjects with whom they’ve made contact over their careers.

But this guy pulled a handgun and began firing. Mancera, immediately hit, returned fire, as did Virijevich, prompting the man—we’ll never know why—to put the gun to his own head and pull the trigger.

Mere seconds of chaos to alter forever the lives of Mancera and Virijevich, their families and friends, their colleagues, and the bystanders at the scene who had the misfortune to witness violence.

Virijevich returned to duty some time ago but Mancera spent the rest of the summer and much of the fall convalescing.

So it was with a glad heart that Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson made an announcement at the Town Council’s meeting Monday night, Oct. 13.

“Probably the best news I can give you tonight is that Officer Nolan returned to duty today, his first day back since the shooting,” Richardson reported. “I’d just like to say how proud I am of our police department, the entire town, the Town Council, and all the area police departments that lent support to both Lt. Virijevich and Officer Mancera during that difficult time.”

“It’s a great day,” Richardson reflected. “Officer Mancera came back to duty. I’m proud of both officers. I will be proud of these officers until the day I don’t do this anymore. In my eyes they’re heroes. They saved the lives of a lot of people that day. I’m just so proud of them and I’ll always remain proud of them.”

“They were heroes,” agreed Member Jim Ton, R-1st. “I’m awfully glad to see them back, both of them.”

Welcome back, Officer Nolan and Lt. Virijevich. Thank you for your service and stay frosty.💙

NEW: CONVICTED GETAWAY DRIVER TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON TOMORROW.

The man convicted of being the getaway driver in the murder of Tulsa Police officer Craig Johnson and shooting of Officer Aurash Zarkeshan in 2020, is getting out of prison tomorrow morning, after serving  4 1/2 years of his 12 year sentence.

Matthew Hall was convicted of accessory to a felony by a jury in March of 2021.

Hall picked David Ware up after Ware fatally shot officer Johnson and critically injured Officer Zarkeshan during a traffic stop. Hall then dumped the gun along the Arkansas River.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections says Hall's sentence is considered complete based on credits for days served during his time in prison. His crime is not an 85% crime.

DOC says:
"Inmate Hall was sentenced to 12 years for OS 21-175-Accessory to Felony, which is not a minimum sentence crime. It is an “enhanced” crime, meaning that he can earn more credits per month, up to 60. He will be released tomorrow as “sentence complete”. An inmate typically serves approximately one-third of their sentence length."

David Ware is in prison for the murder and shooting and is sentenced to death.