Plea deal reached in two-state car chase

The Lawrence man who led authorities in a car chase across two states struck a plea agreement in the Douglas County District Court.

Brandon W. Callahan, 24, pleaded no contest Tuesday to a felony charge of fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers; the state dismissed two other charges of robbery and criminal damage to property.

Chuck Apt, Callahan’s attorney, declined to specify the terms of the plea agreement. Douglas County prosecutors were unavailable for comment. Sentencing for Callahan will be April 20.

Callahan pulled a man from a van Nov. 14 outside a Lawrence gas station in the 1700 block of Massachusetts Street shortly after he caused property damage at Checker’s, 2300 La., where he worked.

From there, Callahan drove along Kansas Highway 10 and wound up deep in Missouri, where at one point the van sideswiped two parked cars near Spruce, Mo. The chase ended in Henry County after the van struck tire spikes set by Missouri authorities. No one was injured in the incident.

Court documents showed that Callahan was a patient at Osawatomie State Hospital, which provides mental health services.

Callahan pleaded guilty last year to charges related to the incident in Henry County, Mo. On Dec. 27, he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and attempted escape, for which he received probation.