Salina Juvenile Arrested After Vehicle Theft, Pursuit

On Saturday, January 17, officers were dispatched to St. Francis Ministries, 223 W. Euclid, for a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe bearing Kansas tag 0949AEP, was owned by an employee of the agency and not by St. Francis Ministries.

While responding to the call, officers observed the stolen vehicle in the 700 block of North Broadway and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield and fled, leading officers on a pursuit. During the pursuit, the vehicle was estimated to be traveling approximately 80 mph on North Broadway, continuing south on Broadway, west on State Street, and then southbound onto I-135.

Near the Magnolia Road junction on I-135, the vehicle briefly lost control but continued southbound at speeds estimated near 100 mph. During that loss of control, one of the vehicle’s tires was damaged and began losing air. The vehicle eventually slowed and came to a stop in the area of I-135 and Schilling Road.

Officers conducted a high-risk stop, and the driver was taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, a 16-year-old male, was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, obstruction, flee and attempt to elude, failure to yield, reckless driving, and multiple traffic infractions. He was transported to jail, processed through Juvenile Intake, and later released into the custody of St. Francis Ministries.

The incident remains under investigation.