An Emporia man has been arrested after Sunday’s chase from west Emporia to Franklin County.
Emporia Police Sgt. Lisa Sage says officers were called to the area of the Dollar Tree store on Industrial Road for a report of a suspicious van around 2:30 pm. The only person inside the van, later identified as 27-year-old Joshua Forero, allegedly did not comply with officer orders to get out of the van. Officers negotiated with Forero for several minutes before breaking a van window. Forero then drove off, nearly running over an officer with a second officer cut by glass when Forero left.
Officers pursued the van through several streets in northwest Emporia before the chase got to Interstate 35 northbound. The Kansas Highway Patrol and Coffey County deputies then took over the chase at an unlisted area.
Forero crashed almost 50 miles northeast of Emporia between Williamsburg and Ottawa. He was arrested after the crash.
Forero has been booked on suspicion of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, felony flee and elude, several traffic violations and possession of marijuana. Additional details about the case are pending.
