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High-speed chase ends in arrest
new deh police chase jason ickler mug
Jason Ickler

An Americus man remains in the Barton County Jail following a high-speed chase Friday that started in Ellinwood. He faces charges for fleeing officers and various drug counts, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.

Jason Ickler, age 34 of Americus, was booked on charges of fleeing and eluding, and possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, numerous traffic charges and four outstanding warrants. Ickler is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

He was wanted on two Barton County warrants and two warrants from the City of Wichita.
According to Bellendir, the incident started at about 7:15 a.m. Friday when an Ellinwood police officer checked out at the intersection of Fifth Street and Wilhelm in Ellinwood to investigate a minor accident. As the officer arrived at the scene one of the vehicles fled.

The officer was able to get a tag number which was confirmed stolen from Wichita, the sheriff said. He then pursued the vehicle out into the county at speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour before losing sight of it.

Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were in the area and located the vehicle near the intersection of K-156 and NE 30 Road, Bellendir said. They engaged in the pursuit and were able to deploy stop sticks in front of the vehicle near the intersection of NE 50 Avenue and NE 30 Road.

The strips were successful and slowed the vehicle which came to a stop in the 300 block of NE 30 Road.
At that point, the driver, Ickler, allegedly refused to comply with orders from the deputies. A Taser stun gun was used and Ickler was pulled from the vehicle.

During the course of the arrest, sheriff’s officers discovered a bag containing suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.