A stolen car has been returned to its owner, thanks to a traffic stop Friday night in north Salina.
According to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester, a patrol officer saw that a gray 2012 Ford Focus turning left onto North 12th Street from North Broadway Boulevard had tail lights that weren't working. He attempted to stop the vehicle, but it went north on North 12th Street, west on Pacific Avenue, and north on North 13th Street before pulling into the trailer park at 917 North 13th, Forrester said.
Once the car stopped, a Hispanic male exited the driver's seat and fled on foot, Forrester said. A female passenger in the vehicle, Angela Rowe, 36, of Salina, was found to have an outstanding warrant out of Sedgwick County and was arrested, he said. While she was being searched, a meth pipe was found, so she also was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia, Forrester said.
The Focus was registered to Ryan Forsberg, 43, of Salina, he said. When officers contacted Forsberg, he reported that his car had been missing for about an hour, since shortly after Rowe and the Hispanic male left his room at the Ambassy Motel, 217 South Broadway Boulevard, Forrester said. Forsberg's keys had been on the table, but he noticed they were gone after the two people had left his room, Forrester added.
According to Forrester, the car was not damaged and has been returned to Forsberg.
The search for the Hispanic male driver continues, he added.