A crime spree that lasted several hours Monday, zigzagged across central and west Salina, and included two stolen vehicles came to an end in a west Salina backyard.
Police were first sent to the 900 block of Birch Drive, where Alexander Dubois, 30, of Salina, reported that someone had stolen his 1997 Ford F350 pickup valued at $5,000, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Tuesday. A double-axle white box trailer that had been attached to the pickup was found nearby a short while later in the 1600 block of Redwood Drive, he said.
Forrester said that in a front yard on Birch Drive, near where the pickup was stolen, police found a wrecked 2000 Chevrolet Impala belonging to Isidro Garcia, of Salina. Police made contact with Garcia, who reported that he had left the Impala warming up in the 1600 block of Beverly Drive at about 6:40 a.m. Monday, but when he went out to get in the car, it was gone, Forrester said.
A short time later, the missing pickup was spotted in the 900 block of Pearl Avenue, he said. When police arrived in the area, the pickup fled at a high rate of speed, Forrester added. The pickup got to Republic Avenue and headed westbound, he said.
In the 200 block of East Republic, the pickup struck a 2017 Toyota Camry it was attempting to pass, causing a substantial amount of damage to the car, Forrester said. The driver of the Camry, Lori Bieber, was not injured, he said.
Still heading westbound on Republic Avenue, the pickup then ran a stoplight at Santa Fe Avenue, a stop sign at Highland Avenue, a stoplight at Ninth Street, and a stoplight at Broadway Boulevard, Forrester said. At Republic Avenue and Cherokee Drive, the pickup struck a telephone box and an Evergy power pole, destroying the pole, he said.
That crash knockout out power to the area and forced Salina USD 305 to close nearby Sunset Elementary School for the day.
Forrester said the driver of the pickup, Zachary McKay, 20, of Salina, then took off running but was apprehended in the backyard of a residence in the 1000 block of Arapahoe Avenue.
Forrester said requested charges for McKay include the following.
Two counts of felony theft of a vehicle
Felony interference with law enforcement officers
Criminal tresspassing
Driving while suspended
Habitual violator
Three counts of duty to report a hit-and-run accident
Reckless driving
Driving left of center
Driving at a speed not reasonable and prudent
Three stoplight violations
A stopsign violation