By NATE KING
Salina Post
A vehicle pursuit in the northeast part of Salina took place on Thursday afternoon and Salina Police Department (SPD) officers are still searching for the suspect.
According to SPD Cpt. Mike Miller, the pursuit began when a blue or purple Mitsubishi Lancer was observed running a stop sign near the intersection of Elm and Oakdale streets, near Riverside Park, at around 1:15 p.m.
The suspect, described as a male between the ages of 20 and 25, led officers on a low-speed chase through the neighborhood, with speeds topping out at 40 miles per hour. The driver ran multiple stop signs before pulling into a driveway in the 300 block of North Columbia Avenue.
"The subject ended up bailing out of the car while pulling into a driveway in the 300 block of North Columbia Avenue, leaving the car in gear, causing the car to crash into a garage, through a door, and hit a car in a garage," Miller said.
SPD estimates the damage to the garage and vehicle to be around $1,500.
Officers quickly established a perimeter and notified Lakewood Middle School about the suspect's unapprehended status.
According to Salina Public School Communications Director Jennifer Camien, Lakewood Middle School monitored building entry and did not allow students outside the building yesterday while police were searching for an individual in the surrounding neighborhood. Normal learning activities continued during this time and throughout the day.
Despite efforts to locate the suspect, including reviewing video footage from an SPD patrol car, the individual has not yet been arrested.
SPD has submitted an affidavit requesting charges, including felony fleeing and eluding, felony interference, felony criminal damage to property, and multiple traffic violations.
The vehicle involved was unregistered, and officers noted that the car’s license plate also did not match any registered owner.