By KIRBY ROSS
Phillips County Review
Around 10 a.m. last Thursday, Phillips County law enforcement was called in to assist the Jewell County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Smith Center Police Department, Webster County (Neb.) Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Nebraska State Patrol in a wild cross country vehicle pursuit that devolved into a foot-chase manhunt. During the course of events, aircraft from the Kansas Highway Patrol also joined in the hunt.
According to the Jewell County Sheriff, a deputy on his force tried to initiate a traffic stop on Highway 36 that morning.
Upon doing so, the targeted white Buick Century sped up before turning onto a county road into rural Jewell County.
The driver subsequently crossed the county line into Smith County where the Smith County Sheriff’s Department joined in the pursuit, resulting in the stopping of the vehicle.
At that point, three individuals exited it and fled on foot across pastures and fields.
As the Kansas Highway Patrol, Nebraska State Patrol and Webster County Sheriff’s Office joined in the search, three Phillips County deputies were deployed to the eastern reaches of Phillips County to block avenues of escape along that possible route.
With the Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft overhead, it was soon able to spot the fugitives and report they were moving north.
All three individuals eventually fled on into Nebraska. Undeterred, and pursuant to interstate mutual assistance compacts and legal rules of hot pursuit, the Kansas Highway Patrol airplane moved across the state line into Nebraska, continuing its mission.
Directly aided by the spotters in the aircraft, Webster County deputies and Nebraska State Patrol troopers were able to apprehend the individuals, with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office taking custody of two juveniles and one adult male. After further investigation it was determined the adult male was just a passenger in the vehicle, had not committed any crimes, and was released.
With the investigation continuing, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.