A 32-year-old Salina man in a pickup stolen from Russell County led local law enforcement personnel on a chase through north Salina and part of Saline County before being apprehended in the west part of town.
The incident began about 1 p.m. Friday when a patrol officer in the 700 block of North Ninth Street observed Joshua Quested, 32, of Salina, driving a 2001 Ford F150 pickup, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. The officer knew that Quested had an active warrant for a probation violation, so he began pursuit of the pickup, Forrester said.
During the pursuit, the pickup traveled on multiple streets in north Salina, sometimes at speeds in excess of the posted limits, and almost hit two other motorists, Forrester said. Additionally, items began falling out of the bed of the pickup, he said. The pickup drove through multiple stop signs and multiple properties, eventually heading west on West North Street and catching southbound Interstate 135 (I-135) at the State Street exit, he said.
Just before reaching the West Crawford Street exit, Quested turned east through the median and the northbound I-135 lanes, went into the east ditch and through a Kansas Department of Transportation fence, coming out onto Westport Boulevard, where he drove through a fence at Romm Chiropractic, 660 Westport Boulevard, Forrester said. Quested then went east on West Crawford Street and turned south on Willow Drive, abandoning the pickup in the 1600 block of Redwood Drive, Forrester explained. Quested was found nearby running through some yards on Redwood Drive and was taken into custody, Forrester added.
According to Forrester, Quested was arrested on suspicion of the following.
Felony flee and elude
Spilling loads on a highway
Littering
Driving while suspended
No proof of insurance
Criminal damage to property
Trespassing
Felony possession of stolen property (for the pickup -- valued at $3,500 -- reported stolen from Russell County a week earlier)