By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
Four people were arrested following a man's false report of his girlfriend being kidnapped in Hays.
Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said officers responded to a reported kidnapping in progress about 2:40 a.m. June 5 in the parking lot of the Econo Lodge at 3503 Vine St.
42-year-old Douglas Lee Carson told police his girlfriend was allegedly with another man, 39-year-old Ryan Douglas Howser of Wichita, and was unable to leave, Greenwood said.
After the woman called Carson claiming she had been kidnapped, Carson, along with 47-year-old Joseph Oneil Torres and 32-year-old Cassandra Leigh Kinish of Manhattan, drove to Hays. Carson confronted Howser. Carson allegedly pointed an AR-15 at Howser, Greenwood said.
Greenwood said officers arrived soon after, spotted a gold Chevy Trailblazer, and identified the suspect, Howser, who allegedly fled on foot toward the Econo Lodge.
Greenwood said Howser ran into the hotel to evade officers and tried to escape down a laundry chute before being arrested.
As officers pursued Howser, they spoke with Carson and uncovered multiple alleged crimes, leading to further arrests.
Carson was arrested on requested charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Torress was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates, drug paraphernalia and criminal use of weapons.
Kinish was arrested on requested charges of possession of opiates and drug paraphernalia.
Howser was arrested on requested charges of felony interference and was found to have an active felony warrant elsewhere.
All were booked into the Ellis County Jail. Greenwood said all parties are innocent until proven guilty.