Suspect leads Derby police on chase, injures officer in crash hour later, chief says

A suspect who led Derby police on a chase starting at Walmart has been arrested after he crashed into an officer’s patrol vehicle about an hour later, officials said.

Officers were dispatched at around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday to a reported suspicious character at Walmart who was possibly trying to break into vehicles in the parking lot, Derby Police Chief Robert Lee told The Eagle. The person drove away in a vehicle when officers arrived, and police disregarded their pursuit before losing sight of the suspect.

The suspect’s vehicle was spotted about an hour later near Madison Avenue and River Street, and the suspect tried to flee the scene when he crashed into a patrol vehicle with an officer inside, Lee said.

The suspect then ran to a house next to the crash scene, where a woman was getting ready to back out of a driveway. He ordered the woman to get out of her car, and she complied because she feared for her safety, Lee said. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was not known whether or not the suspect had a weapon.

A detective in an unmarked car then pulled up to the driveway entrance, blocking the suspect’s escape. But the suspect still tried to back out, crashing into the detective’s car, Lee said.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Derby Police Department to be interviewed, Lee said. He will be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail later Wednesday night. Lee said arrest charges may include aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, robbery, auto theft, evade and elude and other charges.

The officer’s injuries are being evaluated at a hospital, but are not considered to be life-threatening, Lee said. The detective was uninjured.

Jason Tidd: 316-268-6593, @Jason_Tidd