Botanica, Sim Park see damage after SUV is stolen from Wichita water treatment plant
Police are investigating after someone stole a vehicle from the city water treatment plant and caused damage to two other city-run facilities Thursday morning.
Shortly before 5 a.m., police responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Sim Park Golf Course in Riverside. Officers found a city-owned white 2016 Chevy Tahoe that was abandoned, police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said.
Botanica and Sim Park Golf Course are close to each in the 700 block of Amidon Street. The water treatment plant is east of Botanica.
Police learned someone had broken into the water treatment facility’s garage and stole the Tahoe. It is not known how that person got inside the treatment plant, according to Rebolledo.
The Tahoe then rammed into a gate at Botanica and a rope fence at Sim Park Golf Course, Rebolledo said.
“The vehicle got tangled with parts of the fence, hit a curb, blew the tires and the vehicle was disabled,” Rebolledo said. “The suspect left the car there.”
Botanica executive director Dawn Hewitt learned of the incident and arrived at Botanica at about 8 a.m. Some of her staff were already there.
A Sim Park staff member saw the damage and reported it. Botanica’s front main entry gate is damaged beyond repair and will be replaced.
“The entry gate was taken off its rails,” Hewitt said.
No damage was done to any of the gardens and the facility opened for its normal business hours, Hewitt added.
Police are reviewing footage from the incident and anyone with information is encouraged to call police detectives at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.