NEWTON, Kan. – At around 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, Harvey County Sheriff Deputies responded to multiple vehicle burglaries in the 2300 block of N. Oliver Rd.
While speaking with the victims of the burglaries, a call came out of another burglary occurring at the Newton City/County Airport. Deputies approaching the area observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed away from the airport.
Deputies pursued the vehicle, a Ford Escape which was reported stolen from Butler County. During the course of the chase, the driver threw numerous objects from the vehicle including a shot gun, rifle, and paperwork belonging to the earlier reported vehicle burglaries.
The driver avoided three sets of spike sticks placed at various locations in Harvey County. Speeds reached 100 mph. As a sheriff deputy, involved in the pursuit, slowed down to make a turn at 84th and Hertzler, the Deputy’s vehicle was hit in the back by a Highway Patrol Trooper, spinning the Deputy’s vehicle into a ditch and hitting a telephone pole. The Trooper’s vehicle was disabled on the roadway.
The chase continued into Sedgwick County, where deputies lost sight of the suspect vehicle in the area of Tyler and 77th. A citizen called to report a vehicle in a field at 73rd and Ridge Road. The vehicle was the Ford Escape that had been in the chase. The driver of the vehicle was not located. Inside the Ford Escape were numerous weapons and stolen property, including a $14,000 airplane prop, from the earlier burglaries.
The deputy and trooper were taken to Newton Medical Center for evaluation and were later released.
The case has been turned over to the Harvey County Sheriff Investigators for follow up and documentation of all stolen property. Owners of the property will be contacted by the Sheriff’s Office.