By NATE KING
Salina Post
Salina Police Department (SPD) officers arrested four individuals on Wednesday in connection with the theft of a 2011 red Ford Flex, reported stolen from a residence in Salina earlier this week.
The theft occurred on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 5, when a 35-year-old Salina woman called SPD to report her vehicle stolen from her driveway in the 600 block of Johnstown Avenue.
"She told officers that the suspects who took her vehicle were known to her," said SPD Cpt. James Feldman. "She called to report it to us just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday."
According to Feldman, the vehicle is valued at $10,000.
Then, on November 6, at approximately 11:30 a.m., an off-duty Saline County Sheriff's Deputy noticed a disturbance on Maple Street and saw the stolen red Ford Flex leaving the area. Recognizing the stolen vehicle, he alerted SPD.
"When officers began going to the area. We [SPD] then started getting reports from citizens about the vehicle driving fast and carelessly through town," Feldman said. "We then used the FLOCK cameras to begin monitoring it when an officer observed it in the area of 12th and North Street driving at a high rate of speed."
Feldman said that a chase was not conducted due to the excessive distance between the officer and the suspect vehicle.
"Officers got in the area and located the vehicle backed into a stall at the Budget King Motel," Feldman said. "Four males were seen walking away from the vehicle. They were detained."
SPD arrested 20-year-old Rashawn Garcia of Salina on requested charges of possession of stolen property. SPD also arrested and requested charges against a 16-year-old male from Hutchinson for possession of stolen property. Additionally, two 17-year-olds from Salina, identified as the primary suspects, face charges of stealing the vehicle.