On Tuesday at about 9:46 p.m. Barton County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the area of NE 10 Road and NE 120 Ave. A vehicle was reported to be abandoned in the roadway. The vehicle was located and impounded by deputies. The owner of the vehicle was reported to be Kenneth Lamb.
Shortly thereafter, reports were being called in to the 911 dispatch center that someone was driving a combine just east of Ellinwood in a reckless manner. It was reported the implement was traveling on U.S. 56 with no lights and weaving from ditch to ditch. Callers also stated the combine had struck a guy wire and had caused damage to power poles near the intersection of SE 10 Road. and U.S. 56. The combine continued west and entered the City of Ellinwood at about 10:47 p.m. The driver then proceeded through a residential neighborhood, striking several power poles and a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck parked at 205 S. Bismark. Extensive damage was done to the truck and the eight row corn head was torn from the combine. An Ellinwood police officer arrived at the scene at 10:52 p.m., and attempted to contact the driver. As the officer approached the combine, the operator placed the machine in reverse and rammed the Ellinwood police car. The operator then went forward, fleeing from the scene. The Ellinwood officer gave chase. The combine proceeded down several more side streets and went south out of Ellinwood on the county blacktop. Officers reported the vehicle was all over the road and traveling with no lights. A Sheriff’s deputy was able to get in front of the suspect and set a roadblock just south of the Arkansas River bridge. The suspect then rammed the Deputy’s patrol car, dragging it a considerable distance, causing extensive damage and disabling the unit. It was obvious the operator was a grave threat to the public. The deputy and Ellinwood officer fired several shots at the combine in an effort to disable it. It was disabled just south of the river bridge on SE 105 Ave. The driver was removed from the implement and arrested. The officers fired approximately 18 rounds.
The driver was identified as Kenneth M. Lamb Jr., age 37 of Ellinwood.
The combine was stolen near the area where Lamb’s vehicle was found abandoned in the roadway.
Lamb was arrested and booked for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property and reckless driving.
The case is still under investigation.