Two Salina men were arrested on suspicion of multiple forgeries Friday morning after a chase through town and part of the county that reached speeds of up to 100 mph.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that officers were called to First Bank Kansas, 235 South Santa Fe Avenue, shortly before 10 a.m. Friday for the report of Timothy J. Halpain, 29, of Salina, attempting to cash a forged check. When officers arrived, a gray 2006 Honda Civic driven by Michael D. Metzger, 32, of Salina, with Halpain in the passenger seat, pulled out of the First Bank Kansas parking lot onto South Santa Fe Avenue, Forrester said.
According to Forrester, Halpain and Metzger were known to be suspects in multiple forgeries in which forged checks were cashed at businesses throughout Salina from Jan. 2 to Friday.
The officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but the car headed west on West Walnut Street at approximately 40 mph, he said. The chase continued through mutliple west-central Salina neighborhoods, sometimes reaching speeds as high as 50 mph, Forrester said.
The Civic eventually headed west on Crawford at approximately 50 mph, and ran a red light at the Broadway Boulevard intersection, he said. The car continued west out of Salina at speeds up to 100 mph, Forrester said. As the Salina Police Department ended its pursuit, the car was seen traveling south on South Burma Road, he said.
Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said deputies picked up the pursuit at that point. The car, which had a spare "donut" tire on the back, continued at 65-70 mph, he said. The vehicle turned west on West Water Well Road, south on South Powers Road, and west on West Farrelly Road until it attempted to turn north onto South Link Road by the Smoky Hill Weapons Range and turned in front of a Saline County Sheriff's Office SUV, causing a collision, and ending the chase, Soldan said.
Both suspects and the deputy driving the SUV complained of back pain and were transported to Salina Regional Health Center, where they were treated and released, Soldan said. Metzger and Halpain were arrested, he added.
Once the Salina Police Department's pursuit ended on West Crawford Street, officers went back to First Bank Kansas and learned that Halpain had been attempting to cash an $865 check on the account of Salina Investments, LLC, Motel 6, Forrester said. The bank had been alerted by Salina Investments after six other fraudulent checks totaling approximately $4,000, had been written and cashed on the company's account, he said.
Additionally, Metzger and Halpain are suspected in the following other forged check cases, Forrester said.
A check forged on Maggie Mae's Bar & Grill account for $450
Two checks totaling $1,600 forged on the account of Southwest Deed and Title
Five checks totaling approximately $2,600 forged on the account of Team Employment
Forrester said Metzger was arrested on suspicion of the following.
Felony flee and elude
Driving while suspended
Numerous traffic violations
Aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer
Seven requested counts of forgery, making or altering
Seven requested counts of forgery, distributing
Seven requested counts of making false information
Theft by deception
Forrester said Halpain was arrested on suspicion of the following.
Eight requested counts of forgery, making or altering
Eight requested counts of forgery, distributing
Eight requested counts of making false information
Theft by deception