SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle.
According to the Saline County Sheriff's Office on Friday at around
Just after 3 p.m. January 16, a sheriff's deputy was in the area of the 10,000 block of South 81 observed a 2027 KIA sedan traveling 68mph in a 55 mph zone, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. .
The driver fled northbound and pursuit ensued. The vehicle turned east on Water Well Road, with top speeds at approximately 120 mph, according to Soldan.
As the vehicle, which deputies confirmed was stolen from a Salina neighborhood January 12, continued east on Water Well and as it approached the intersection of Holmes Road, the car went airborne, leaving the roadway on the north side of the travel lanes and crashed into an area of trees behind a home in the area of Water Well Road.
Two occupants in the vehicle ran from the crash.
Law enforcement then received a call from a residence on S. Holmes Road about hearing the noise of the crash and spotting a woman run across their yard. Several deputies, along with officers from the Salina Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol arrived to the scene.
As they searched the area, they observed a man identified as 30-year-old Phoenix Leonard of Salina, on top of the roof of a home in the area of S. Holmes. Leonard voiced to officers that he was armed and refused to come down from the roof.
Officers set a perimeter around the home, as they were also actively searching for the other suspect.
Shortly after, a deputy noticed movement in a dog house in the area of the home. Deputies then discovered 23-year-old Katherine Lynn of Salina, as the other occupant of the vehicle who fled, and took her into custody.
With Leonard still on the roof, officers shot pepperballs in an attempt to get him off. Leonard was about to get off the roof and surrender, but noticed officers stopped shooting pepperballs and decided to stay on the roof.
Leonard then walked across the roof and fell through a skylight on an attached garage.
The homeowners gave officers the garage door opener, and officers opened the garage. Highway Patrol then released a K9 towards Leonard and the K9 bit him, as officers took him into custody. The pursuit, search and standoff for the suspects lasted until about 6:30 pm according to Soldan.
Leonard was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for injuries he sustained and was later booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Felony Flee and Elude, Interference w Law Enforcement, Aggravated Burglary, Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Trespassing, Driving While Suspended, several Traffic Infractions and Kidnapping.
Lynn was booked on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Trespassing.
Leonard was placed on a Kidnapping requested charge, because Lynn stated she wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Leonard refused, according to Soldan. Leonard and Lynn are well acquainted according to Soldan.