BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on car theft and drug charges after a chase and crash.
Just after 8 a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the Cloud Ridge Apartments, 217 W. 3rd Street in Andover on the report of a possible burglary in progress and the suspects were in a dark green Chrysler 300, according to a media release.
Upon arrival officers observed that the apartment’s maintenance worker had the driveway blocked with his truck and was pointing at the suspect vehicle.
The suspect vehicle then drove over the grass on to 3rd street and sped off at a high rate of speed with officers in pursuit.
The the chase continued south on 159th, the suspect's vehicle lost its front passenger side tire but continued across U.S. HWY 54, and then onto Brookhaven where the driver lost control on the curve, leaving the road and striking a tree.
The driver, who was later identified as 24-year-old Lucas Tullis of Wichita was taken into custody as he tried to escape the vehicle through the sun roof.
The passenger, a 27-year woman from of Wichita opened the vehicle door and fell to the ground. Both Tullis and passenger were transported to a Wichita Hospital by EMS where the passenger remains.
When Tullis was released from the hospital, police transported him back to Andover where he remains in custody.
During the investigation, the suspect’s vehicle was determined to have been stolen out of Bentley, Kansas.
Tullis is being held on requested charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Felony Evade and Elude. Charges are pending on the passenger.