DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a chase on Interstate 70.
Early Wednesday, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the Geary County Sheriff’s Office was pursuing a 2015 Ford Mustang, reported stolen from Wichita, westbound on Interstate 70, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.
Geary County deputies lost sight of the vehicle as it entered the road construction near the Chapman exit. Dickinson County deputies later located the vehicle on Interstate in the north ditch, just before the bridge under construction.
The Dickinson County Deputy responsible for operating the agency’s drone responded and, using thermal imaging technology, was able to locate the suspect in a field approximately ¼ mile north of Interstate.
The drone operator was able to direct a Sheriff’s Office unit and a Chapman Police Department unit to the suspect's location and they took Jacob A. Lehmkuhl, 33, of Wichita, into custody. He was turned over to Geary County Deputies for transport back to Geary County.
Lehmkuhl is being held on requested charges of possession of stolen property, driving without a license, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and a parole violation, according to online jail records.
Lehmkuhl has seventeen previous convictions for theft, burglary, criminal threat, aggravated assault and a weapons violation, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.