By Adam Strunk
A man is in custody after a manhunt ended in a dog bite in Harvey County.
Harvey County Sheriff Chad Gay stated that around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday a woman reported a disturbance in Hesston and that she wanted the suspect in question, a man, removed from the property.
“By the time officers got there he had already left,” Gay said. “We started looking into him and we found he had felony warrants.”
Gay said a deputy passed the suspect heading southbound on Ridge Road going 75 miles an hour in a 55-mile-per-hour speed zone, and the deputy attempted to pull the suspect over.
A short chase ensued, Gay said, and the man then turned east on U.S. Highway 50 before crashing his vehicle in a ditch and fleeing.
“The guy bailed out and we’re now out there in a tree row looking for him,” Gay said of the law enforcement presence in the area that has Hoover Road closed down.
He said there were multiple canines on the scene and dogs, as well as officers, had to be regularly switched out during the search.
“It’s so hot out that the dogs and officers get wore out really quick,” Gay said. It was 102 degrees outside at the time Gay spoke about the issue.
Gay stated that Newton, Hesston, North Newton, and Halstead police departments all helped along with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.
“Sedgwick County Dog ended the situation with a bite,” he said.
Jason Fike was arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding arrest as well as prior felony warrants Gay stated.
