A 28-year-old man is being held in the Lyon County Jail this morning after a police chase through southeast Emporia shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Possible charges pending include possession of a stolen pickup truck, obstructing legal process, felony attempt to elude an officer, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident, and possibly other traffic violations.
The pickup had been reported stolen Tuesday morning by Payless Auto Sales, 2116 West Highway 50. The truck, a 1996 Chevrolet, was valued at $8,000.
According to a police news release from Police Lieut. Scott Cronk, Officer Kelly Davis began to follow a pickup truck after he thought he saw the driver commit a traffic violation. The driver of the truck immediately began making turns onto other streets to try to evade the police car.
When the pickup failed to stop at a stop sign, Davis activated his emergency lights and siren to stop it. A chase began on East South Avenue at speeds up to approximately 70 miles per hour.
The pickup took a circuitous route through alleys and streets in southeast Emporia and, in the process, struck a vehicle parked in the 10 block of South Exchange Street and a tree in the yard of 3 South Exchange St.
The suspect drove down the sidewalk to East Copley Avenue, and en route struck another vehicle parked in a driveway. The pickup also struck two mailboxes on the opposite side of the street and continued south on the sidewalk, where it struck another vehicle parked in the driveway of 210 S. Exchange St., before continuing on. Damage also was reported to lawns and landscaping of homes in the area.
The pickup struck a large tree and received major front-end damage. At least two men got out of the truck and fled on foot. Officers caught one man who is believed to be the driver and are looking for the second man.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police department, 342-1766, or Lyon County Crimestoppers, 342-CARE.