Updated 11 a.m. 9-4-15
Names have been released in the Pottawatomie County stolen vehicle case KMAN told you about early Thursday morning. Dalton Flax, 19, and James Shirley, 21, both of Wichita, were arrested for theft and obstruction. Flax faces an additional charge of driving while suspended. Bond has been set at $50,000 each.
The two were taken into custody following a stolen vehicle case reported in the Oak View area of St. George at about 4:44 a.m. Thursday. Pottawatomie County Sheriff Greg Riat has clarified the direction the two were heading after the vehicle was taken–with the 2012 Chevy Camaro turning south off of highway 24, not east as earlier reported, at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle was abandoned near Vineyard Road and White Tale Lane, with one suspect taken into custody a short time later. The other was apprehended just before eight a.m.
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Updated 8:30 a.m.
(News release from Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department)
On September 3rd, 2015 at 4:44 a.m. the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident in the Oak View area of St. George. The caller reported that they saw the dome light come on in their car, a 2012 Chevy Camaro. The caller went to investigate what was going on when the Camaro was driven away from his residence, the caller believed his Camaro was stolen.
The suspects driving the Camaro were located moments later driving East on Highway 24 at a high rate of speed by Pottawatomie County Sheriff Deputy Sgt. Brian Woodworth. Sgt. Woodworth pursued the vehicle a short distance and it left Highway 24 and went East on Vineyard Road.
Two suspects, a driver and passenger abandoned the vehicle in the area of Vineyard Rd, and White Tale Lane. One suspect was taken into custody a short time later. A second suspect, just before 8:00 a.m. was also taken into custody. The Pottawatomie Count Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft division and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. No further suspects are are being sought at this time.
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(earlier report)
Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department officials continue to search for a stolen vehicle Thursday morning. Sheriff Greg Riat indicates they are in the midst of their investigation and will have more information later, but he confirmed a helicopter seen in the St. George area is connected to the stolen vehicle search. A description of the vehicle and circumstances of where the vehicle was taken from are not yet available. KMAN was first informed of the stolen vehicle at 5:30 a.m.
