Court hearings are coming later this month in the cases against two Council Grove men who allegedly led several area law enforcement agencies on a chase and search effort late last month.
Michael Warren Garrett, facing a count of theft for allegedly stealing a pickup truck out of Salina in late January — but also facing counts of flee and elude and driving while suspended — has a preliminary hearing at 9:30 am Wednesday in Morris County District Court.
Jason Scott Oder, facing one count of theft for his alleged involvement in stealing the truck, won’t be in court until a status hearing Feb. 26 in Council Grove. The hearing was initially set for Wednesday but was delayed at defense request due to scheduling conflicts.
The Morris County Sheriff’s Office says Garrett and Oder were arrested after a chase began near the junction of US Highway 56 and Old Kansas Highway 4 on Jan. 26. 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.
