Erie man takes Kansas officers on four-county chase

(AP) A 24-year-old man from Erie is jailed after a two-day police chase that ran through four Kansas counties on roads and through fields at speeds sometimes over 100 mph.

Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman Chad Crittenden said the chase started Wednesday night when officers received a report of a stolen vehicle and potential kidnapping near Parsons.

Troopers lost site of the truck but the chase resumed Thursday when Pratt County officials saw the truck.

The chase went through fields, county roads and highways in Pratt, Kiowa, Edwards and Pawnee counties.

The chase ended in an Edwards County field when the driver hit a vehicle that had been placed in its path.

Dakota Dean Demeritt is jailed in Pratt County on $200,000 bond facing several potential charges.

Read the full press release from the Parsons Police Department below:

On December 19, 2018 at approximately 9:23 PM Parsons Police Officers were dispatched to the 1500 Block of South 25th in the Mendota Creek Apartment complex for a report of a possible kidnapping with children involved.

Officers arrived in the area and were told that the suspect was in a Red Dodge Dakota pickup truck and had left the scene. Sergeant Tim Jones later located the Red Dodge in question and found that the suspected individual was 24-year-old Dakota Demeritt of Erie. Sgt. Jones conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 200 Block of South 29th. Before Sgt. Jones was able to approach the vehicle, the driver fled in his vehicle from the traffic stop through a yard and between houses. The suspect drove through several yards in the area and through ditches on Frisco to avoid road construction and capture. Officer Joel Franklin took over the pursuit after the suspect drove through an open field south of Frisco to 27th. The suspect fled to Thornton and then through more yards to eventually end up on Appleton where he proceeded west to 32nd and south out of Parsons City Limits. Labette County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Adamson joined the pursuit as well, as it led into Labette County jurisdiction. The suspect fled on to 32nd then to 22000 Rd and the west to 19000 Rd, after that he turned east back to Ness and then back to Parsons city limits. The pursuit went east down Main to 13th where the suspect went through the car wash north to an alley near Chess Ave. The suspect intentionally rammed one Parsons Police vehicle and one Labette Sheriffs vehicle. The officers then lost sight of the suspect as it was last seen east bound. A search for the vehicle went underway, but officers were not able to find the suspect again.

On December 20, 2018 at approximately 8:19 AM Officer Ryan Shirk observed the suspected Red Dodge Dakota pickup truck from the previous night’s pursuit in the 500 Block of North 13th emerging from an alley. The driver was identified as Dakota Demeritt once again. Officer Shirk initiated a traffic stop in which the suspect fled immediately after seeing Officer Shirk. The suspect fled to Chess then to 10th Street heading north. Once on 10th Street the suspect came to a stop and put the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to ram Officer Shirks vehicle. Office Shirk was able to avoid the attempt and the pursuit continued north to Northern Blvd. to Queens Rd. then back north again across Highway 400. Once the pursuit entered Neosho County deputies were contacted for assistance as well as Kansas Highway Patrol. The lengthy pursuit traveled north and eventually onto a dead-end road in which the suspect was able to turn around and backtrack. Stop Stick tire deflation devices were deployed, but the were avoided by the driver. The suspect slammed on his brakes during the pursuit causing officers to crash into him and then resumed fleeing after causing the damage. One Parsons Police Vehicle was damaged, and Officer Isaiah Hicks resumed the pursuit after the crash. Kansas Highway Patrol requested to be lead vehicle in the pursuit and Officer Hicks pulled back allowing Troopers to attempt a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI). Kansas Highway Patrol Took over the Pursuit north of Galesburg. Officer Hicks ended his participation in the pursuit and returned to Parsons City limits.

The suspect was not apprehended by any participating agency and law enforcement are still looking for Dakota Demeritt in connection with todays pursuit, as well as the pursuit from the 19th. The Red Dodge Dakota has been reported as stolen and is entered NCIC as such. Parsons Police Department is submitting charges on Demeritt for Criminal Damage, Reckless Driving, Fleeing and Eluding, Interference with Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault, and Aggravated Battery along with multiple traffic offenses for his actions on December 19th, then for his actions on December 20th Parsons Police Department is submitting Charges for Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving Interference with Law Enforcement Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Possession of a Controlled Substance and multiple traffic offenses.

Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said “this culprit will be apprehended and brought to justice. The chase may end, but the pursuit will continue until caught.” Spinks said, “Parsons Police Officers will follow criminals like bloodhounds until they are in handcuffs.”