The Barton County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday evening that the search for fugitive Michael Aaron Jayne had been called off for the Barton County area, after federal authorities confirmed he had left the area. Authorities believe he left in a pickup stolen from a Barton Hills residence.
Jayne, who is wanted for probation violations in Oregon, fled to central Kansas following a high-speed chase in Rooks County last Thursday night. A pickup was discovered at Cheyenne Bottoms at 8:42 a.m. Friday. It was stuck in mud in a mostly dry pool at NE 60 Road and NE 50 Ave.
Later in the morning, authorities discovered the pickup at Cheyenne Bottoms had been stolen from Rooks County. The Kansas Wetlands Education Center went into lockdown as authorities searched for Jayne, who was considered armed and dangerous.
At  8:48 p.m. Friday, a Barton Hills resident reported the theft of a 1988 Dodge Dakota pickup from 69 Hilltop Circle Drive, which authorities said is approximately 4 miles from where the original stolen vehicle was recovered. At last report, they were still looking for the pickup, described as primer gray, white and silver.
The BCSO reports the pickup contained a quarter tank of gas, and keys were left inside. It is not known at this time when the vehicle was stolen as it was last seen by the owner around noon on Thursday.
Jayne is a white male, 30 years of age, 5’ 10”, 180 pounds, brown eyes, blonde hair. He has been convicted of assaulting and threatening law enforcement officers in his native Redding, Calif., and in Oregon.
“At this time no further details can be released as an on going investigation is still in progress,” the statement from Barton County Undersheriff Larry Holliday read. “Barton County officials want to thank all the citizens of Barton County for their assistance in looking for this individual.”