RAWLINS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who stole a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle on
Just after noon Saturday while transporting a suspect to a detention facility following a pursuit that involved a stolen vehicle, the transporting state trooper witnessed an injury motorcycle crash on Kansas 25 near Atwood, according to a media release from Trooper Tod Hileman.
The trooper stopped to render aid. While the Trooper assisted the crash victim, the suspect identified as 23-year-old Joshua Swartwout of Naples, FL, who was handcuffed behind the back gained control of the trooper's patrol vehicle and drove away southbound on Kansas 25 at a high rate of speed.
KHP and local law enforcement pursued the patrol vehicle to Interstate 70 where the suspect continued westbound.
At 12:40p.m., the stolen KHP vehicle came to a stop on Interstate near Esbon in Sherman County after the car ran out of fuel.
Swartwout, who was still handcuffed behind the back, fled the KHP vehicle on foot but was quickly apprehended. EMS at the scene check him and later he was transported to the jail in Sherman County without further incident.
There were no injuries to law enforcement and the KHP vehicle did not sustain any damage, according to Hileman.