Ellsworth County Sheriff’s officers arrested two individuals Thursday evening after they fled a traffic stop at Kanopolis Lake.
According to the Ellsworth County Sheriff Murray Marston, at approximately 7:41 p.m. Thursday, ECSO officers responded to a report of a male subject driving a motorcycle at excessive speeds in the south shore area at Kanopolis Lake. A deputy responded to the area and observed a motorist in a white pickup driving at an excessive speed, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the truck. However, the driver fled in an attempt to elude the officer.
After a short chase, the vehicle crashed near the marina and the driver, later identified as Matthew Timothy Schroeder, 36, of McPherson, and a passenger, later identified as Rachel Leann Hale, 38, of Galva, fled from the vehicle. Schroeder gained entry into a nearby mobile home and both individuals entered the home, which officers indicated was not occupied at the time.
Additional officers from ECSO, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism responded to the scene and secured a perimeter around the home. After numerous attempts to get the individuals to come out of the trailer and surrender, KHP’s Special Response Team was requested to assist. Team members arrived and engaged the mobile home. Schroeder and Hale then came out of the home and were arrested without incident.
Schroeder was transported to the Ellsworth County Jail, while Hale was transported to the Lindsborg Community Hospital by Marquette Emergency Medical Services for injuries she sustained due to the crash.