High speed chase ends in arrests

By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
    It was like a scene out of the video game, “Grand Theft Auto,” Thursday, Jan. 29, in the streets of Imperial.
    A Chase County Sheriff Deputy was patrolling west of Imperial on Hwy. 6, when he observed a black Ford Fusion traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed.
    The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle with no license plate. The vehicle continued eastbound showing no signs of stopping and actually speeding up.
    A second Deputy further east on Hwy 6 attempted to use stop sticks to end the chase before it entered Imperial. Imperial Police Officers  also attempted to stop the vehicle on the north end of Broadway, but the driver of the Ford Fusion was able to swerve around both attempts.
    The Chase traveled down main street of Imperial at a high rate of speed and continued onto Spur 15A toward Champion and the southern part of Chase County.
    Eventually the Ford worked it’s way back to Imperial via county roads. This time spikes strips were successfully deployed before they entered the city, but the Ford continued into town.
    The pursuit continued through Imperial and east on Hwy. 6, before the vehicle left the road and drove through numerous fields, finding it’s way back into Imperial.
    The vehicle continued through the streets and yards in town before being brought to a stop near the intersection of east 3rd St. and Hwy. 61. Chase County School was placed on lock down until the incident had been resolved.
    The driver, 25 year old Brian Foster of Denver Colorado and passenger, Michelle Marie Fernandez, 25 year old from Florida, were both taken into custody without any further incident.
    It was determined that the Ford Fusion had been reported stolen.
    The driver, Brian Foster, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges will likely be added as the investigation continues. Fernandez was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
    The driver is wanted for multiple felony charges out of Colorado.