Three Salina men have been arrested in connection with a case that involved the theft of police equipment from an off-duty officer's vehicle in Kipp as well as other burglaries in the county.
On Dec. 30, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan reported that sometime between 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 and 3:20 a.m. Dec. 30, someone got into the unlocked personal vehicle of an Salina Police Department officer in Kipp and stole the following items.
A ballistic vest
A taser
A body camera
A Kenwood portable radio
A Glock 9mm hand gun
A flashlight
An SPD badge
52 rounds of 9mm ammunition
OC spray (pepper spray)
An ASP expandable baton
An emergency tourniquet belt holder
A black duty belt
A black and blue knife
A handcuff pouch
A magazine pouch
Total loss was estimated at $5,036, Soldan said.
Soldan said this morning that a search warrant in the case was executed at 110 Raleigh Street in southwest Salina on Dec. 31. As the warrant was being executed, Byron Neef, 23, of Salina, attempted to flee and a magazine believed to be from the Glock stolen in Kipp fell out of his pocket, Soldan said. When Neef was stopped, the Glock and part of a magazine for the Glock were located in his vehicle, Soldan explained.
Items found during the search of the residence included the officer's badge, radio and mic, part of the vest carrier, the knife, methamphetamine, and marijuana, Soldan said.
Additionally, the victim's wallet from a burglary in the 7200 block of East Farrelly Road that occurred sometime between 8 p.m. Dec. 29 and 7:30 a.m. Dec. 30 and checks from two other burglaries in the county also were found in the residence at 110 Raleigh Street, Soldan said.
READ: Vehicle burglaries on rise in county; latest on East Farrelly Road
A person who law enforcement was hoping to find during the search at 110 Raleigh Street, Jeremy Cullen, 25, of Salina, was not at the residence, Soldan noted.
On Jan. 3 another search warrant was executed, this time at 1844 North Fifth Street. During that search, part of the vest carrier, a third magazine for the Glock, the taser holster, and a double magazine ammunition holder were located, Soldan said.
Additionally, a rifle reported stolen in a burglary between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday in the 6900 block of Thorstenberg Road was recovered during the search of the residence on North Fifth Street, Soldan said.
READ: Items stolen from three more unlocked vehicles in county
During the search, Richard Blevins, 52, of Salina, who lives at the North Fifth Street address, was arrested, Soldan said.
On Wednesday, Cullen was located at a Wichita motel and arrested by Wichita police on multiple active warrants out of Saline County, according to Soldan.
Additional requested charges for Cullen were added today by Saline County, including the following, Soldan said.
Two counts of burglary
Two counts of theft
Two counts of possession of stolen property
Two counts of theft of a firearm
Two counts of distribution of a firearm to a felon
Possession of methamphetamine
Possession of marijuana
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Attempted unlawful use of a financial card
According to Soldan, Neef was arrested by the Salina Police Department on Dec. 31 on the following requested charges.
Possession of a stolen firearm
Possession of stolen property
Felon in possession of a firearm
Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute
Possession of drug paraphernalia
No tax stamp
Unlawful drug proceeds
Interference with a law enforcement officer
Driving while suspended
Additionally, Blevins was arrested on the following requested charges, Soldan said.
Felon in possession of a firearm
Possession of a stolen firearm
Possession of stolen property
Possession of marijuana
Possession of drug paraphernalia