By SALINA POST
On Saturday, July 20, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m. officers from the Salina Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at the Traveler’s Lodge Motel, located at 245 S. Broadway Avenue.
Salina Police Captain James Feldman said the disturbance was initially reported by a caller who witnessed a female subject being chased into the motel parking lot by a vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers found a 36-year-old female from McPherson in the parking lot of the Ambassy Motel at 217 S. Broadway Avenue. The victim recounted that moments before the call, she had been in the 1600 block of W. Crawford with her boyfriend, Christopher Todd Wilson, a 32-year-old from Salina. During an argument in the vehicle, Wilson allegedly threw a phone at her, striking her in the face.
The altercation escalated when the victim exited the vehicle and Wilson allegedly grabbed her from behind by her throat, impeding her breathing. Despite her attempts to escape, Wilson reportedly took her to the ground and forcibly took her phone, though it was not damaged. The victim tried to flee again but was taken down a second time.
According to reports, the pair agreed to get back into the vehicle, with the victim driving after Wilson handed her the keys. She drove to the 200 block of S. Chicago, where she managed to exit the vehicle and ran to the Traveler’s Lodge parking lot, seeking help from bystanders.
Wilson allegedly chased her with the vehicle, and the victim feared he might hit her.
Witnesses informed Wilson that police had been called, prompting him to leave the area in the victim’s vehicle. Officers later located the vehicle in the 1700 block of West Crawford and found Wilson hiding in the bathroom of a nearby Taco Bell. Believing he might be armed with a knife, officers from the Salina Police Department and deputies with the Saline County Sheriff’s Office ordered Wilson to surrender, which he did without further incident.
During the arrest, officers found a trace amount of methamphetamine on Wilson. He was taken into custody and booked into the Saline County Jail on multiple requested charges, including aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, criminal restraint, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal carrying of a weapon.