NEWTON – It started just before 6 a-m, when Harvey County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to 18305 West Highway 50, at Southwest Wheels, a residence and home-based business selling used trucks and motorcycles. The owner called 9-1-1 to report that one of his trucks was being stolen.

The victim went outside to check on his other property and discovered a second suspect. This suspect was located inside a shed on the property and was in the process of stealing a 2nd vehicle. The victim confronted the suspect and the suspect attempted to run over him in the stolen vehicle.

The victim, armed with a shotgun, fired one round at the pickup as it was coming at him. The suspect crashed the vehicle into a tree and began to exit the vehicle when a second round was fired by the victim. The victim believed he had struck the suspect. The suspect then fled on foot, in a northeast direction from the property.

Investigators discovered a 2001 Dodge Ram 4×4 pickup had been stolen from the victim. A motorcycle had also been taken from the property, but was recovered in the south ditch east of the victim’s business on Highway 50. A second white pickup belonging to the victim was loaded with various tools and equipment belonging to the victim, but never made it out past the victim’s property.

Investigators discovered a white Chevrolet pickup on the railroad right of way, approximately a half mile southwest of the scene. This pickup was reported stolen from Butler County.

At around 8:00 a-m, a resident located in the 17000 block of SW 24th, about a mile south of the Highway 50 crime scene reported their maroon 2010 mini van had just been stolen. This mini van was recovered, abandoned, a short time later in Sedgwick County off of North 215 St. West and West 109th Street. The vehicle had been driven into the creek area.

Officers from around the area began a search of the area. Tracking dogs were used, the Highway Patrol fixed wing was deployed and thermal imaging cameras were brought into the area. At about 10:15 a-m, the suspect was located by K-9 trackers. The suspect was about 5- miles from where the stolen mini van was recovered hiding in weeds by the creek bed. The suspect was placed into custody and transported to Via-Cristi St. Francis hospital for treatment from the shot-gun pellets he encountered at the 18305 W. Highway 50 address.

Investigators from the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate this case. Other agencies may be getting involved in the investigation due to possible criminal activity in other jurisdictions.