Manhunt north of Lawrence leads to arrest of suspected car thief

photo by: Richard Gwin

A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper stands guard near East 1250 and North 2000 roads north of Lawrence during a Monday manhunt for a suspect who fled a sheriff's deputy in a stolen car.

One man was arrested Monday after an hourslong manhunt north of Lawrence, police said.

Justin Price, 36, was booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of felony fleeing and eluding and possession of stolen property, said Sgt. Kristen Dymacek of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

photo by: Richard Gwin

A Kansas Highway Patrol Helicopter circles the area of the Monday manhunt.

After 10 a.m. Monday, a sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a silver Honda, driven by Price, near Teepee Junction, east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and North 1800 Road, Dymacek said.

Price pulled the car over but sped off as soon as the deputy was outside their car, Dymacek said. The deputy did not give chase.

Soon after, deputies found the car — which was reportedly stolen from the Kansas City, Mo., area — about a half-mile north of the intersection of North 2000 and East 1250 roads, Dymacek said. The car was locked and abandoned with Price nowhere to be found.

Setting up a perimeter and with rifles drawn, police began to canvass the area in search of Price, who was believed to have been the car’s only occupant, Dymacek said.

Law enforcement had no reports of Price being armed and dangerous, Dymacek said. Rather, deputies drew their weapons as a matter of protocol and precaution, she said.

Sheriff’s deputies and Lawrence Police Department K-9 units searched the ground, while Kansas Highway Patrol helicopters searched from the air.

After about three hours of searching, Dymacek said, Price was taken into custody and treated by medics on the scene for heat exhaustion.

The incident remains under investigation, Dymacek said, and additional charges may be filed against Price.