Bel Aire man arrested, accused of injuring deputy, damaging two patrol vehicles
A 29-year-old Bel Aire man has been arrested on suspicion of battery, criminal damage to property and more after police said he injured a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy and damaged two patrol vehicles while attempting to evade arrest.
At 11:09 a.m. Saturday sheriff’s deputies patrolling in Oaklawn were alerted via a license plate reader that a wanted man had parked his vehicle at a business in the 3600 block of East 47th Street South, a press release from the sheriff’s office said.
When deputies tried to arrest the 29-year-old man, he ran back to his vehicle and got into the driver's seat, the release said.
A struggle between the man and the responding deputies ensued, during which the Bel Aire man “placed the vehicle in reverse and struck a patrol vehicle, causing disabling damage.”
“He then accelerated out of the parking lot, struck a second patrol vehicle, and fled the area,” the release said.
One deputy suffered minor injuries as a result, but no medical treatment was required. Law enforcement officers chose to not pursue the 29-year-old, but instead used Flock Safety license plate readers to track him to an area near I-235 and Seneca, the release said.
There deputies found the vehicle, driverless and crashed into a utility pole near 33rd Street South and Seneca.
Deputies looked for the man in the area and called in the Kansas Highway Patrol Air Support to aid in the search, the release said. In the 1200 block of West 34th Street South, the man surrendered to deputies and was taken into police custody.
The man was evaluated at a hospital before being booked on suspicion of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, battery of a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property and a narcotics violation, in addition to outstanding warrant through Bel Aire Municipal Court, the release said.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration; the Wichita Eagle does not name people who have been arrested unless they are charged.
