Ness County Sheriff Brandon J. Mitchell reports that a pursuit that began Tuesday evening in Ness County ended 75 miles later in Ellis County. The female driver was arrested on multiple charges.
According to a news release from the Ness County Sheriff’s Office, the NCSO conducted a traffic stop on a white, 2017 Chevy Cruz around 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 6 at H Road on K-96. The vehicle was reportedly stopped for a minor infraction but, during the stop, K-9 Kaia was deployed and indicated an odor of narcotics on several areas of the vehicle.
As deputies requested the female driver to exit the vehicle she fled from the stop and pursuit ensued. Ness County Emergency Management overheard the radio traffic and shut down vehicles at the K-96/U.S. 283 junction in Ness City.
The vehicle was chased through Ness City and Ness County into Rush County and continued north on U.S. 183 into Hays in Ellis County. The pursuit encompassed approximately 75 miles at speeds exceeding 115 mph. Spike strips were deployed and were unsuccessful four times during the pursuit, and one successful deployment was made just inside the south city limits of Hays, according to the news release. At one point the driver used her vehicle to swerve at law enforcement officers attempting to use spike strips to stop the pursuit. The pursuit was ended when Kansas Highway Patrol performed a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) maneuver on the vehicle in the 1900 block of Vine Street in Hays.
After a preliminary probable cause search of the vehicle, approximately 30-40 individual containers of THC, THC paraphernalia and other drug paraphernalia were located in the trunk and passenger area of the vehicle, according to the report.
The vehicle is being held by Ness County Sheriff's Office for further investigation. The female driver was arrested on charges including felony flee and elude, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
No injuries to pursuing law enforcement, the general public or the suspect in this incident were reported.
This is an ongoing investigation. The NCSO did not release the name of the driver, noting formal charges are pending in Ness County.
Sheriff Mitchell expressed thanks to Ness County Emergency Management, Rush County Sheriffs Office, Ellis County Sheriffs Office, Hays Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol. “You all put your lives on the line for your communities and fellow law enforcement today, and produced the best outcome possible,” Mitchell stated in the news release.
