Minneapolis Man Flees Salina Police

A Minneapolis man driving a stolen plumbing van leads multiple law enforcement officers on a chase in and around Salina and Saline County Wednesday afternoon.

The chase started when a Salina Police officer spotted a van from Reid Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning of Manhattan. The van had been reported stolen in Salina.

The man driving the van did not stop, and instead lead officers on a high speed pursuit. The pursuit went through portions of South Salina, North Salina, and outlying areas north of Salina. It eventually ended east of Salina along Interstate 70.

Salina Police Officer James Miller tossed out spike strips as the driver of the van was turning onto Interstate 70 from North Ohio Street. The driver’s side two tires of the van were both blown out.

The van continued east on I 70 for a mile and a half, driving on the two flat tires. It finally skidded off the road, into a ditch, and came to a stop.

The driver was taken into custody. He is identified as 30-year-old Cody Lott from Minneapolis.

Miller tells KSAL News that Lott could face multiple charges that include felony fleeing and eluding.

Multiple officers from the Salina Police Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol all participated in the chase.

Miller suffered some burns to his hands as he tossed his spike strips into the path of the fleeing van. Otherwise, there were no serious injuries.