photo by: Contributed

Christopher M. Dale in 2019.

A Gardner man is facing several felony charges in Douglas County after allegedly leading police on a vehicle pursuit last week that began in Eudora and ended in Lawrence and involved the passengers throwing guns out the window.

Christopher M. Dale, 33, was formally charged this week with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, all of which are felonies, according to a charging document provided to the Journal-World.

For the weapons charges, the document indicates that Dale was previously convicted of felonies in Johnson County, which bars him from possessing weapons, and he was reportedly in possession of two handguns. Dale was also charged with criminal damage to property, a misdemeanor, for damage to a cornfield during the pursuit.

Another person was apprehended during the incident, but charges were not filed against that person, according to the booking log.

As the Journal-World previously reported, the chase started about 7:30 a.m. Friday in Eudora when the driver refused to pull over for an alleged traffic violation.

The pursuit traveled down North 1400 Road between Eudora and Lawrence, and eventually included the suspect vehicle driving at high speed and in the wrong lane on Kansas Highway 10, Haskell Avenue, 23rd Street and 31st Street.

Near the K-10 and Iowa Street intersection, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies used a maneuver to spin the vehicle into the ditch, but the vehicle returned to the highway before deputies pinned it in a nearby parking lot.

Guns were reportedly thrown from the vehicle while deputies pursued it. At least one of the guns recovered has been determined to be stolen.

Dale and the passenger were arrested at the scene around 7:50 a.m., according to the booking log. One was taken to LMH Health with injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening. Additionally, a deputy sought medical care for injuries that also weren’t considered life-threatening.

During a hearing on Tuesday, Senior Assistant District Attorney Seth Brackman said the DA’s office planned to file many more charges against Dale, requiring more than a dozen witnesses for a preliminary hearing in December. Brackman also said Dale has outstanding warrants in other counties. When he was arrested, the booking log listed warrants from Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

According to Kansas prison records, Dale has also been previously convicted of several charges in Johnson County, including aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and arson, among others. He served several years in prison for the various convictions and was most recently discharged in April.

Brackman said Dale’s criminal history puts him in the highest sentencing category, meaning he would be subjected to the most severe penalties for each charge if he is convicted.

Dale is currently in the Douglas County Jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office declined the Journal-World’s request for Dale’s booking photo, but a photo of him was available in the Kansas prison database.