UPDATE: Officer Dragged, Chase, Vehicles Crash

A Salina man was arrested  Wednesday evening after allegedly dragging a police office as he sped off from a traffic stop, and then leading police on a chase that ended when he and a police SUV both crashed.

Salina Police Sgt Brent Rupert told KSAL News at the scene that it started with a traffic stop at about 4;40 in the afternoon in the 600 block of Highland. During the stop, while the officer was out on foot, the driver, identified in Saline County Jail Records as 40-year-old Gary Michael Gilbert,  failed to comply and sped off. The officer was dragged as the car sped off. He was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with minor injuries.

Rupert says that a short time later the suspect car was located, headed west on Crawford Street near Salina Central High School. A chase ensued, heading west on Crawford. It turned south on Santa Fe. The car being chased, and a police SUV lost control as both vehicles attempted to make a left hand turn and head east on Wilson Street.

The vehicles crashed through a fence and into a yard. The police SUV was disabled in the yard. The vehicle being pursued was able to drive a short distance before it also became disabled. Gilbert then exited the vehicle and was quickly taken into custody.

 

 

Marc Allen of Salina was in a vehicle, headed west on Wilson, and came upon the chase as the vehicles were turning east onto Wilson. He told KSAL News that he saw both vehicles lose control and crash into the yard. He swerved out of the way as the vehicle being chased came right at him, and then watched as Gilbert got out and was taken into custody at gunpoint.

 

 

Rupert says that there were no serious injuries in the crash. Gilbert was transported to the hospital as a precaution. He was later booked into the Saline County Jail. He could face numerous charges that include aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding, and multiple traffic violations.

(courtesy video)

 

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The Salina Fire Department works the crash scene.

 

 

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The vehicle being pursued was able to drive a short distance after the crash before it also became disabled.