SEK fugitive arrested after overnight search

A fugitive from Independence, Kansas, was arrested overnight in the Yates Center area after a search by several area agencies.

On Wednesday morning, Parsons Police officers were called for a report of a truck with an ATM tied to it.

When officers arrived, they found a pickup truck that had an ATM chained to it near Labette Bank. The truck had been stolen from Independence, Kansas just a day prior.

Two weapons were also reported to have been in the truck when it was stolen. An AR-15 and a Glock pistol. The AR-15 was recovered with the vehicle, but the Glock was not.

20-year-old Benjamin Whitaker was named as the person of interest and was also listed as an escapee from Montgomery County after being released on furlough by a Montgomery County Judge.

He was being held in connection to a homicide investigation in Independence. He was also wanted for attempted murder in Coffeyville.

The ATM had an undisclosed amount of cash in the machine that was stolen. The machine was recovered in the parking lot.

He’s now in the Woodson County Jail.