In-car camera captures pursuit, arrest of suspects
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker told Marion County Commission Monday the county's investment in technical equipment and training continues to pay-off.
Becker showed a video tape of a chase that occurred early Saturday morning in Marion County. The video had been televised on Wichita television stations.
An in-car camera in undersheriff Randy Brazil's vehicle caught the chase and apprehension of three suspects.
According to Becker, at 3:50 a.m. deputies were set up at Agri-Producers, Inc. in Tampa when the incident occurred.
The deputies observed a car with three occupants, stealing anhydrous ammonia from a tank located at the Tampa elevator.
"Conscious decisions were made regarding the pursuit," Becker said.
Deputies waited until the suspect vehicle was out of Tampa before pursuing.
However, the driver of the suspects' vehicle drove through a yard, puncturing a tire. Eventually, the tire came off the rim with the vehicle running on three tires and a metal rim.
Three sheriff's deputies and three Hillsboro Police Department officers pursued the suspects south on Limestone.
During the 85-mph chase, the suspects purposely dumped the anhydrous ammonia from the moving car in an attempt to elude law enforcement officers.
"The suspects were filling up a canister in the back seat of the car and shooting it through the window," Becker said.
Near 290th and Limestone, deputy Jeff Soyez used his sports utility vehicle with a cattle guard on the front grill, and knocked the suspects' vehicle from the roadway.
The three suspects were then arrested and booked in county jail.
The SUV sustained minimal damage.
During the course of the chase, Holstein cattle on the road were narrowly missed by the suspects' and law enforcement vehicles.
Three officers came in contact with the ammonia during the pursuit and were treated for injuries.
Becker said the suspects were from Manhattan, Emporia, and Junction City.
Anticipated charges may be theft of anhydrous ammonia, aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers. Becker said the charges would be the county attorney's decision.
"They didn't appear to be users," Becker said of the suspects.
Becker said his officers had "put a lot of time" in training and preparing for this type of situation.
"We worked on the Tampa site for a long time," Becker said.
The sheriff's department currently has three in-car cameras and other surveillance equipment.
"When I come in and request permission to purchase equipment, it gets put to good use," Becker said.
