SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement continue their investigation of 36-year-old Derek Devine of Sedgwick.
He led a Saline County Sheriff’s Deputy on a brief pursuit in a stolen UTV Thursday before a KHP trooper and K9 found him.
Further investigation uncovered another stolen UTV that was reported missing from Straub International in early August.
Undersheriff Brent Melander said the Sheriff’s Office worked with the Sedgwick Police to obtain a search warrant for Devine’s residence, located in the 2000 block of South Commercial in Sedgwick.
Authorities found a 2017 Polaris RZR XP Turbo that was stolen from Straub, 3637 South Ninth, sometime before 6 a.m. on Aug. 5. It was valued at over $27,000.
Melander said Devine is facing additional felony theft and damage to property charges.
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SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on theft charges after a chase with a stolen UTV.
Just after 6:30 Thursday, a suspect later identified as 36-year-old Derek Devine of Sedgwick, cut a cable that was used to secure a 2017 Polaris General at Straub International, 3637 S. Ninth Street in Salina, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.
Cutting the cable set off an alarm and a deputy was dispatched to the business. Sheriff Soldan said that dispatch received a report of a vehicle driving in the area without lights while the deputy was responding to the call.
The deputy located the suspect, driving the stolen UTV, near the intersection of Kansas Highway 4 and Ohio. The suspect took off, taking the deputy South on Holmes Road before going off-road near Salemsburg Road.
Devine ditched the UTV after driving into a ravine. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper arrived on scene moments later and used a K-9 to locate and arrest Devine.
The UTV valued at $26,000 sustained damage to the front and undercarriage.
During the investigation, authorities learned that Devine visited the business Wednesday and was seen driving a white four-door dually truck towing a 30-foot gooseneck trailer.
Deputies are still attempting to locate the vehicle and if anyone sees a truck matching that description, they should call the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.