By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
SALINA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man in connection to multiple theft cases in Salina.
Deputies were sent to the 3500 block of Gerard northwest of Salina for the report of a possible stolen camper at the Saline County State Fishing Lake, according to Saline County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeremiah Hayes.
When they arrived, they discovered that the camper was, indeed, one reported stolen recently in Salina, Hayes said.
As deputies were preparing to hook up the camper to take it to the sheriff's office for further investigation, a pickup started to pull into the lake drive, then suddenly backed up and took off on Gerard Road at a high rate of speed, Hayes said.
A pursuit ensued and eventually the pickup and its driver, identified as Christopher Gochanour, 27, of Salina, were located at a motel on Diamond Drive in north Salina.
When law enforcement personnel arrived at the motel, Gochanour fled on foot, but was quickly apprehended.
Saline County Undersheriff Brent Melander said personnel from both the Salina Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit.
Both the camper and the pickup were taken to the sheriff's office.
Inside, they found a number of power tools and hand tools, some of which were determined to be stolen from the City of Salina's maintenance building in Sunset Park. Additionally, methamphetamine was found in the pickup and marijuana was found in the camper.
Hayes said the insignias and other identifying marks on the camper had been covered with spray paint and the pickup had a license plate from another pickup that looked similar to the one Gochanour was driving.
In addition, mail belonging to a Salina resident was found in the camper and an insurance check made out to that person was found in the pickup, according to Hayes.
Gochanour, who had an active warrant out of Saline County, was arrested on that warrant. Gochanour is being held on requested charges, Crim damage to prop;w/o consent $1K-$25K, Ignition interlock device; Operate a car without a required device, Obstructing apprehenstion or prosecution: Misdemeanor, Poss of marijuana; 2 or more prior convictions Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Poss of stolen property;Value $1,500 to $25,000, Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation and Use/poss drug paraphernalia/human body, according to online jail records.