ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase in stolen trucks.
Just before 9a.m. on Thursday police responded to the Walmart parking lot at 1920 U.S.73 to investigate the theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck that a 59 year old victim had reported was stolen while he was inside the store, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.
Within minutes it was determined that a white box truck was involved in the theft of the pick-up truck. An Atchison County Sheriff’s deputy observed the stolen pickup and the white box truck on U.S. 73 south of Atchison.
Both vehicles were southbound but ended up heading northbound. The deputy pursued the pick-up truck and Atchison Police pursued the box truck as it entered the city’s south end. Atchison Police pursued the box truck that eventually ended up westbound on U.S.73 into the western part of Atchison County and into Jackson County where Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the pursuit.
That pursuit ended in Nemaha County where troopers took James A. Shoot, 42, of Belton Missouri, into custody. Atchison County deputies took Jason A. Smith, 40, of Olathe Kansas into custody in southern Atchison County.
Smith is being held in Atchison County on requested charges for the theft of the pickup truck from the parking lot. Shoot is being held in Nemaha County on requested charges that include felony fleeing and eluding. The box truck had been stolen earlier on Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Law enforcement recovered both vehicles.