By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A person wanted in connection to a late Monday pursuit in north Salina also is believed to be connected to an early Tuesday morning attempted felony theft in the western part of the city.
At approximately 11:15 p.m. Monday, a patrol officer who was southbound in the 500 block of N. Ohio Street saw a northbound SUV with very dim headlights, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The officer reported that as the SUV got closer, it quickly swerved toward the center lane in the direction of the patrol vehicle before continuing northbound and speeding off. As it passed the patrol vehicle, the officer noticed that the SUV didn't have working tail lights.
The officer turned around to attempt to catch up with the SUV, identified as a silver 2002 GMC Envoy, and finally did so traveling westbound in the 600 block of E. Pacific Avenue, where a traffic stop was attempted.
The Envoy failed to stop and a pursuit around the north part of the city ensued, however, after the Envoy failed to stop at several stop signs, the officer stopped the pursuit near the intersection of E. Woodland Avenue and N. Fourth Street, Forrester said.
A bit later, the officer located the unoccupied Envoy nearby on Forest Avenue. A witness told police that a White male with no shirt and wearing shorts took off running northbound on Fifth Street.
The officer returned to the Envoy, which had caught on fire, Forrester said. The Salina Fire Department arrived and extinguished the blaze.
Police spoke with the registered owner of the Envoy and believe they may know who the driver was, Forrester said.
Then, at approximately 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, someone attempted to steal a four-wheeler from the backyard of a residence in the 1400 block of Cheyenne Avenue in west Salina.
The 19-year-old owner woke up when someone opened the metal gate at the back of the yard. Forrester said the owner reported seeing a White male who he has known for several years attempting to push a 2001 Yamaha 660 Raptor out of the yard. The four-wheeler is valued at $2,000.
The suspect took off before police arrived, however, he is believed to be the same person who was driving the SUV in the north Salina pursuit, Forrester said.
Warrants are being requested for attempted felony theft and criminal trespassing, Forrester said.
The investigation is continuing.