photo by: Wyandotte County Detention Center

Stephen Craig Coward

An auto burglary suspect crashed into a building early Wednesday morning while fleeing from police before he was arrested, and police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two additional suspects.

Police were alerted to alleged auto burglaries in the 2400 block of Lawrence Avenue just before 2:30 a.m, according to a social media post from the Lawrence Police Department. A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy located a vehicle believed to be associated with the incident and attempted to pull the car over, but the driver fled, the post said.

The deputy pursued until the driver crashed into a building at 24th Street and Melrose Lane, where the driver then fled on foot. Lawrence police established a perimeter around the area and began searching with a drone. The drone’s thermal cameras assisted officers in locating the fleeing suspect running in the Holcom Sports Complex, 2601 W. 25th St., the post said.

Once the suspect was surrounded by officers, he surrendered without further incident, the post said. Police attached a drone video that shows the surrender.

The suspect, Stephen Craig Coward, 21, of Topeka, was booked into the Douglas County Jail around 3:15 a.m. on suspicion of fleeing from police, reckless driving and failing to report damage to an unattended vehicle or building, according to the jail booking log.

Police are asking anyone who lives in the area southeast of Clinton Parkway and Lawrence Avenue who may have information or security footage of the area between 2 and 2:30 a.m. to contact police at 785-843-0250 or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 785-843-8477.