An Emporia man accused of leading a multi-county law enforcement chase across three counties over the Memorial Day weekend has a preliminary hearing in Lyon County District Court on Wednesday.
Joshua Forero, 24, is formally charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, flee and elude and other counts.
Forero stands accused of driving away from Emporia Police after a suspicious van was reported in the Dollar Tree parking lot. Officers say they smelled burned marijuana inside and tried repeatedly to get Forero out of the van before he drove off, nearly running over one officer and cutting another officer after a window was broken out. Officers then gave chase through northwest Emporia and then on Interstate 35, joined by Coffey County deputies and Highway Patrol troopers, until Forero crashed in Franklin County.
The hearing is at 10 am.
