SALINE COUNTY —An SUV owned by the University of Kansas Athletics and reported stolen in Lawrence was recovered following a Friday night incident in Salina.
Just after 11:45 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the Best Western Plus, 745 West Schilling Road in Salina for the report of damage to property, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.
A motel employee observed two people removing a screen from room 107 and left the motel without paying the $24 outstanding balance on their room bill.
They were seen leaving in a black 2019 Ford Expedition belonging to KU Athletics that had been reported stolen in Lawrence and was valued at $65,000.
While officers were working the case, another officer observed the SUV turn into the parking lot of the Comfort Inn, 715 West Schilling Road. When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the SUV drove around the patrol vehicle and headed east on West Schilling Road at a high rate of speed, according to Forrester.
The SUV failed to stop at the stop sign at the East Schilling Road-South Ohio Street intersection and attempted to turn north, but because of the speed hit the South Ohio Street curbing and came to a stop.
Forrester said the driver, Sarah Howe, 42, of Oregon, smelled strongly of an alcoholic drink and was found to be in possession of narcotics.
Police arrested her on requested charges that include Flee and elude resulting in a motor vehicle accident, Possession of stolen property, Possession of opiates, No drug tax stamp, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Reckless driving, Speeding, Transporting an open container, Stop sign violation, Misdemeanor theft and Damage to property. The SUV was towed from the accident scene.
Police have not located the man observed removing the screen at Best Western Plus, according to Forrester.