Court proceedings are underway against two Council Grove men who allegedly led three area law enforcement agencies on a chase and search effort late last week.
Michael Warren Garrett, age 42, has been accused of single counts of theft, flee and elude and driving while suspended. Warren is officially accused of stealing a pickup truck from Salina Scale on Friday before the chase incident developed.
Jason Scott Oder, age 41, is charged with one count of theft — involving the alleged theft of the truck in Salina.
Following first appearances in Council Grove on Monday, both are set for preliminary hearings Valentine’s Day.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office says Garrett and Oder were arrested Friday morning after a chase began near the junction of US Highway 56 and Old Kansas Highway 4. The chase went through parts of southeast Morris, northwest Lyon and northeast Chase counties before Garrett and Oder ditched the truck in the 2700 block of Chase County YY Road about 10 miles northwest of Emporia. A search involving deputies from Lyon, Chase and Morris counties, officers with Council Grove Police, the Morris County K-9 Kimber and drones from Lyon and Chase counties eventually led to the suspects about half-a-mile from where the allegedly stolen truck was abandoned.
