A vehicle stolen Thursday ended up crashing into a tree late Sunday night and the driver was later found under a garage workbench.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that an officer on patrol Sunday night in the southwest part of town recognized a white 2013 Hyundai Elantra driving northbound in the 1900 block of Haskett Avenue as one that had been stolen Thursday in the 400 block of South College Avenue. The officer believed the driver was Seth Finch, 25, of Salina, who had active felony warrants and who had been reported as a possible suspect in the theft of the car, Forrester said.
The officer saw the car turn into a driveway in the 700 block of Smith Avenue, Forrester said. While the officer was waiting for backup, he observed a female in the front passenger seat and several juveniles in the back seat, he said.
A short time later Finch started the car and drove it through the yard of the residence, through a fence, and into a tree, Forrester said. Finch then jumped out of the car and fled on foot, he added.
The officer made contact with the other occupants of the car, a 34-year-old female, and three girls, ages 6, 7, and 10, Forrester said. All four complained of head pain due to the crash, he said. The two youngest girls were not in child safety restraints, Forrester added.
A K9 was deployed to track Finch, and he was located a short time later under a workbench in an open detached garage in the 600 block of Maple Avenue, Forrester said.
Finch was arrested on a felony probation violation warrant out of Saline County and a felony probation violation warrant out of Dickinson County, as well as on suspicion of the following, Forrester said.
Fleeing and eluding resulting in a motor vehicle accident
Felony interference with a law enforcement officer
Three counts of aggravated endangerment of a child
Burglary
Possession of stolen property
Damage to property
Driving while suspended
Reckless driving
Two counts of child passenger safety
No proof of insurance
Damage to a seven-foot section of the fence was estimated at $100, Forrester said. There was no damage estimate for the vehicle.