Formal charges have been filed in Franklin County against the woman accused of leading local law enforcement on a four-county chase Saturday.
According to County Attorney Brandon Jones, 39-year-old Rebecca Estrada has been charged with single counts of aggravated battery on law enforcement, aggravated assault, aggravated vehicular burglary, interference with law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Estrada had her first appearance in Franklin County District Court Tuesday afternoon at which time she was placed on $500,000 bond and had her next appearance set for 1 pm Jul. 7 via Zoom.
Franklin County is the only county thus far to charge Estrada after she allegedly fled a traffic stop in Lyon County and began a vehicle pursuit that ended with a near four-hour standoff in the Love’s Travel Station parking lot in Ottawa last Saturday. During the pursuit Estrada allegedly struck a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy with her vehicle injuring him and also reportedly struck two Lyon County Sheriff’s vehicles. The Franklin County Deputy was taken to the hospital and later discharged.
Authorities also say Estrada was allegedly smuggling several illegal citizens from countries south of the United States to states east of Kansas.
There is currently no word on the number of people allegedly being smuggled. The subjects that Estrada was allegedly transporting have been identified and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified of the situation. Further details on that aspect of the investigation are pending.
Noon Tuesday: Four county chase suspect scheduled for first court appearance in Franklin County Tuesday afternoon
The woman who led local law enforcement on a four-county chase Saturday will have her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
39-year-old Rebecca Estrada will be in court at 3 pm in Franklin County District Court. County Attorney Brandon Jones says formal charges have been filed following Saturday’s chase that began in Lyon County and ended in the Love’s Travel Station parking lot in Ottawa.
Jones says he will not release the list of charges until after Estrada’s court appearance.
Saturday’s chase began after Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies reportedly attempted a traffic stop on Estrada’s vehicle just east of Emporia on Interstate 35. Estrada reportedly fled passing through Coffey and Osage counties before entering Franklin County where law enforcement successfully deployed a spike strip and partially disabled the vehicle.
Estrada allegedly struck and injured a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy as well as two Lyon County Sheriff’s vehicles before entering the Love’s parking lot. A nearly four-hour standoff then ensued in the parking lot before the Ottawa Police STAR Team and Lyon County Special Response Team subdued and later arrested Estrada on suspicion of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault on law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and interference with law enforcement in Franklin County.
Authorities say Estrada was allegedly smuggling several illegal citizens from countries south of the United States to states east of Kansas.
There is currently no word on the number of people allegedly being smuggled. The subjects that Estrada was allegedly transporting have been identified and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified of the situation. Further details on that aspect of the investigation are pending.
