By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
On Friday evening, at about 5 p.m., Salina Police Department officers responded to a witness who reported gunshots in the 700 block of Fairdale Road.
According to SPD Capt. James Feldman, the witness told officers they heard three to four shots fired and saw a dark gray Dodge SUV driving erratically away from the neighborhood.
"We then started getting reports of the same vehicle driving erratically down Magnolia, nearly causing several accidents," Feldman said. "Someone observed the driver with a handgun."
Feldman said once officers acquired the license plate information from the vehicle, they tracked down its owner in the 900 block of South Second Street in town.
Once officers arrived, they began communicating with a 27-year-old woman at the residence, and officers asked her and three young children, ages 3, 7 and 5, to leave the home.
"That was at approximately 5:33 p.m. that we were at the house, and just after 6 p.m., our negotiators attempted to make contact with the male subject identified as [38-year-old Salina resident] Zachary VanBebber," Feldman said.
The negotiator then continued conversations with VanBebber, and at about 7:30 p.m., VanBebber exited the home and officers arrested him.
Feldman said officers then served and conducted a search warrant on the residence and vehicle, where they found two handguns and several shell casings.
Officers then requested charges for unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits, criminal use of a weapon, possession of a firearm while under the influence, driving while suspended, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.