Wichita man wanted after reported crime spree found barricaded in fridge

A Wichita man wanted in connection with a Sunday crime spree — fleeing in two stolen vehicles and ramming one into a patrol vehicle at a McDonald’s and then hitting the building — was arrested Tuesday at a multi-family housing unit, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Branden Stitt said.

“Entry was made into the residence, where (Thomas) Torrez was found barricaded inside a refrigerator,” Stitt said. “Despite multiple commands to surrender, Torrez refused to comply.”

A K-9 was used, “which facilitated his apprehension,” Stitt said.

After medical treatment, Torrez, 37, was booked into Sedgwick County Jail just before 11 p.m. on 11 charges. He was arrested in the 2500 block of North Park Place at a location previously associated with him, the sheriff’s office said. He lives in the 1500 block, records show.

Monday, Stitt said in a news release that Torrez was a violent offender who was “considered dangerous and should not be approached.”

Torrez, who is on probation, was wanted “for failure to report as required and another for a probation violation,” Stitt said, when police were looking for him before Sunday’s incidents.

He has 18 convictions in Kansas, most in Sedgwick County, that date back to 2009, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records. Those include several drug convictions, two aggravated assaults, at least two criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated escape from custody, theft, burglary and an aggravated weapons violation, KDOC records show.

Here is what the sheriff’s office says happened starting on Sunday morning:

• At 1:08 a.m., Wichita police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of East 21st Street North when a man fled the scene in the stolen car.

• Around 7:45 p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. The deputy tried to block the vehicle but the driver rammed the patrol vehicle and then reversed into the building, then drove over the curb and landscaping and got away. The deputy received minor injuries.

• Another deputy, who was responding with lights and sirens, got into an accident at 47th and Hydraulic with another vehicle. The five people in the vehicle, which had three children ages 10 or under and two adults, were taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

• A female who was in the vehicle with the suspect was located by officers after saying she escaped. She told officers she tried to get out multiple times and even used mace on the man.

• He later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot.

• He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur. He then led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.

• He caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly,where he ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM.