By NATE KING
Salina Post
A Salina man was arrested and a juvenile was cited on Tuesday after a non-injury vehicle accident.
According to Salina Police Lieutenant James Feldman, at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Salina Police officers were sent to Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum Road for the report of a vehicle accident. When officers arrived they found two vehicles damaged and inoperable.
Officers discovered that one of the vehicles, a blue 2012 Ford Mustang was occupied by five juveniles ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old.
"They [teenagers] reported they were in Lakewood Park when one of the passengers threw something out the window," Feldman said. "They then began being chased by a vehicle occupied by Matthew Whitaker, 39 year old of Salina."
Feldman noted that Whitaker was driving a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. During the chase Whitaker struck the mustang multiple times.
During the chase, both vehicles were driven to Indian Rock State Park, where Feldman said Whitaker hit the Mustang's front end one last time, leaving both vehicles incapable of being driven.
According to Feldman, Whittaker told officers the object that was thrown at his vehicle's back windshield was a cup filled with Orbeez.
Orbeez are superabsorbent polymers that grow to 100 times their original size when submerged in water. Although originally used for agricultural purposes by creating a climate beneficial to plants, Orbeez has now become a sensory toy and is used to suspend tea lights in vases at weddings.
Feldman said Whitaker was charged with five counts of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property. One of the juveniles, a 14-year-old passenger, was cited for throwing items out the window.