SALINA – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a teenager in connection with a pair of shooting incidents.

Joshua T.M. Blake, 18, Salina, was arrested early New Year’s morning in connection with shots fired New Year’s Eve. He is also facing charges in connection with shots fired near a west Salina bank on December 4th.

Blake is alleged to have fired shots from a pickup New Year’s Eve in the area of University Place and Phillips Street, near Hageman and Saturn Avenue, and in the 400 block of South 12th Street where three bullets from a small caliber gun hit a home, according to Salina Police. No one was injured.

Blake was driving a white Nissan pickup. Witnesses described this as the vehicle driven as the shots were fire.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said investigators have been able to link Blake to a case where shots were fired in the area of 1st Bank Kansas, 1333 W. Crawford on December 4, where a traffic sign was hit by a bullet.

Blake was booked into the Saline County Jail on several requested charges including criminal discharge of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and criminal damage to property.
A passenger in the pickup, 32-year-old Joseph W. Allen of Salina was arrested on drug charges.

Two other occupants in the pickup were not arrested.
Captain Forrester said a gun has not been recovered and another arrest is possible in the case.