Early last Thursday morning, three Great Bend men were arrested after Barton County law enforcement officers pursued a pickup through the county and into the city of Great Bend. Speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour and the suspect reportedly rammed a Barton County Sheriff’s Office patrol car.
However, there may be another bystander’s vehicle involved, said Barton County Attorney Levi Morris. There was a report of an unidentified vehicle off the road in the 400 block of South U.S. 281 as a result of the chase.
Morris urged this motorist and anyone else who witnessed the pursuit or anyone with information about any crime to contact law enforcement.
He said those with information can call the Barton County Communications (911) non-emergency number, 620-793-1920.
The driver of the pickup was Tanner Guyton, age 19, of Great Bend. Guyton was charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer for striking the deputy’s vehicle, felony flee and elude, felony obstruction, possession of stolen property and numerous other traffic violations.
The passengers were Esteban Foster, age 20 of Great Bend, and Jericho Riddle, age 18, also Great Bend. Riddle and Foster were both charged with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony obstruction.
Bond for all three suspects is set at $100,000 each. They remained in the Barton County Jail as of Monday.
At about 12:45 a.m. Thursday, BCSO deputy Alex Lomas attempted to stop a vehicle in the 400 block of SE 80 Ave. which was bearing expired registration. But, when the deputy attempted to stop the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, Guyton fled, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.
Lomas pursued the truck, which was later determined to be stolen. Speeds in the county exceeded 100 mph.
Sheriff’s deputies pursued the vehicle for 23 miles in rural Barton County before it entered the Great Bend city limits, the sheriff said. Officers attempted to deploy stop sticks but the suspects evaded them. After entering the city, the driver continued to flee from BCSO deputies and Great Bend Police Department officers.
Near the intersection of 18th Street and Kansas Avenue, the suspect intentionally rammed deputy Lomas’s patrol car, Bellendir said. The patrol car sustained heavy damage and was out of service, but the deputy was not injured.
The suspect vehicle continued to flee, reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph in the city.
The chase continued to the 1500 block of 11th Street in Great Bend where BCSO deputy Richard Allen had the opportunity to strike the rear of the suspect vehicle with his patrol car, putting it into a spin. The vehicle went into a front yard and struck a tree.
Several officers arrived seconds after the stop. All three occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
No one was injured.
