Monday, November 19, 2012
A man is in jail after allegedly stealing from a South Hutchinson store, leading officers on a chase and attempting to ram a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper head-on.
Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson said a man and woman were shoplifting from the Heartland Outdoor store at 1 Heartland Drive around 2:30 Monday afternoon.
The woman, Jessie Cox, was arrested on 2 warrants, but the man, Josh Watkins, fled in a Dodge Durango.
During the chase, Watkins attempted to hit a KHP trooper head-on, Henderson said.
The chase ended near Arlington, about 20 miles southwest of Hutchinson, when Watkins ditched his vehicle and ran. He was soon found hiding under and evergreen tree and taken into custody.
He was jailed on several charges, including felony flee and elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, theft under $1,000 and criminal damage to property. His bond was set at $10,000.
