Man, woman arrested following Papa John’s robbery

A man and woman are in jail following a couple of crimes that police think are connected.

The spree began shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday, when two men approached a 65-year-old man in his black 2000 Ford Ranger pickup in the 3100 block of South Davidson and took it from him, Lt. James Espinoza said. That’s in the Planeview area of south Wichita.

At about 7:30 p.m., two men entered the Papa John’s at 7800 E. Harry, Espinoza said. One of them had a rifle and pointed it at employees, demanding money.

There were at least six customers in the business at the time of the robbery, as well as other people outside, Espinoza said. They gave a description of the vehicle used in the robbery, and officers spotted it a short time later.

A short vehicle chase began, with the pickup crashing on South Washington. At least two people fled from the crashed vehicle into the surrounding neighborhood, Espinoza said.

A 22-year-old man and 18-year-old woman were arrested after being found on Ida. Officers are looking for a second man who may be connected to the crimes.

“Evidence of the crime was located in the wrecked vehicle,” Espinoza said.

The owner of the Ford Ranger was not able to identify the man and woman arrested as being the people who stole his vehicle, Espinoza said.

The man and woman were booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery. The woman was also arrested on suspicion of evading and eluding law enforcement, records show.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Man, woman arrested following Papa John’s robbery."