By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
Just after 10 a.m. last Friday, April 5, a Salina Police Department (SPD) officer observed a driver on a black motorcycle that fit the description of a Kansas Highway Patrol chase sometime earlier this year.
The officer noticed the motorcyclist in the area of Comanche Avenue and Hemlock Drive, and once they began to approach the driver, he took off at high speeds.
SPD Capt. James Feldman said the driver, later identified as 34-year-old Salina resident Alex Cook-Myher, made his first traffic violation of more than a dozen when he ran a stop sign going south on Cloud Circle and turned eastbound on Cloud Street.
"They [officers] attempted to initiate a traffic stop when the driver took off, ran a red light on Cloud at Broadway," Feldman said. "[He] continued eastbound on Cloud, and speeds reached over 70 mph."
Cook-Myher then began passing in no-passing zones, ran another stop sign and turned north on Ohio Street, where he reached his top speed in town at almost 90 mph.
Feldman said he continued committing traffic violations along Ohio Street, like passing in turning lanes, speeding at about 50 mph through alleyways and running stop signs around town.
Eventually, Cook-Myher lost control of his bike on West Crawford Street and crashed near the intersection of West Crawford and Phillips Avenue.
Feldman said he then took off on foot, and officers quickly apprehended him in a nearby parking lot.
"While on the ground, the subject continued to attempt to escape from the officer," Feldman said. "Other officers arrived and he was taken into custody."
Cook-Myher had minor scrapes from the crash and arrest and refused medical treatment.
Once officers arrested and identified Cook-Myher, they found he had two probation violation warrants and a Kansas Highway Patrol warrant for fleeing and eluding.
The chase lasted only seven minutes, with officers arresting Cook-Myher at 10:13 a.m.
Feldman said officers requested charges for interference, felony flee and elude, driving while suspended and more than a dozen traffic violations.
READ MORE: Salina City Commission April 8 — BSL study session and housing project agreements