Mar 24, 2020

Salina man arrested after chase from New Cambria

Posted Mar 24, 2020 5:11 PM
<b>Tanner Wheeler. </b>Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office
Tanner Wheeler. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office

A 24-year-old Salina man was arrested early this morning after a chase that began at New Cambria and ended in central Salina.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that a deputy on patrol at 12:52 a.m. noticed a vehicle parked in a field in the 1700 block of North Cunningham Road. When the deputy went to check on the vehicle, it fled south on North Cunningham Road, he said.

The vehicle, a 2005 Dodge Durango, made its way south and west toward Salina, at times reaching speeds up to 100 mph, Soldan said. The Durango entered Salina on Stimmel Road and went south on North Ninth Street, he said. After a number of turns, the Durango ended up on South 11th Street, south of West Iron Avenue, where the driver, Tanner Wheeler, 24, of Salina, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, Soldan said.

Wheeler was found a short time later hiding in a back yard on South 11th Street and surrendered when a deputy drew his taser, Soldan said. He was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, Soldan said.

According to Soldan, a female passenger also fled on foot and deputies are working to positively identify and find her.

Soldan said that a large number of tools that were believed to be stolen were found in the Durango, and that additional requested charges concerning the tools were likely.

Soldan said that Wheeler was arrested on an active warrant from Saline County District Court and on suspicion of the following.

Flee and elude

Possession of methamphetamine

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Driving while suspended

Numerous stop sign and turn signal violations

Improper driving on landed roadways

Driving without headlights on