SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects in connection with the burglary of police equipment from an off-duty officer's vehicle in rural Saline County and several other burglaries in the county.
Between 8:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and 3:20 a.m. Dec. 30, someone entered the unlocked personal vehicle of the officer in the unincorporated Saline County Community of Kipp, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.
The suspect took the officers's badge, ballistic vest, a taser, a body camera, a Kenwood portable radio, a Glock 9mm hand gun, flashlight, 52 rounds of 9mm ammunition, OC spray (pepper spray), an ASP expandable baton, emergency tourniquet belt holder, black duty belt, a black and blue knife, a handcuff pouch and a magazine pouch The total loss was estimated at $5,036, according to Soldan.
On Dec. 31, deputies executed a search warrant in the case at 110 Raleigh Street in Salina, according to Soldan.
As the warrant was being executed, Byron Neef, 23, of Salina, attempted to flee and a magazine believed to be from the Glock stolen in Kipp fell out of his pocket, according to the sheriff. When Neef was stopped, the Glock and part of a magazine for the Glock were located in his vehicle.
During the search of the residence, deputies found the officer's badge, radio and mic, part of the vest carrier, the knife, methamphetamine, and marijuana, according to Soldan.
Deputies also found a victim's wallet from a burglary in the 7200 block of East Farrelly Road and checks from two other burglaries.
A suspect in the case, 25-year-old Jeremy Cullen of Salina, who law enforcement hoped to find during the search was not at the residence, according to Soldan.
On Jan. 3, deputies executed another search warrant at 1844 North Fifth Street in Salina. Investigators found part of the officer's vest carrier, a third magazine for the Glock, the taser holster, and a double magazine ammunition holder.
Deputies also found a rifle reported stolen in a burglary in the 6900 block of Thorstenberg Road.
During the search, deputies arrested 52-year-old Richard Blevins who lives at the North Fifth Street address.
On January. 6, police located Cullen at a Wichita motel and arrested him on multiple active warrants out of Saline County, according to Soldan. Cullen was also booked on requested charges burglary, theft, possession of stolen property, theft of a firearm, distribution of a firearm to a felon, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Attempted unlawful use of a financial card
Salina police arrested Neef on Dec. 31, according to Soldan. He was booked on requested charges that include Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of stolen property, Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia, No tax stamp, Unlawful drug proceeds, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Driving while suspended
Blevins was booked on requested of charges of Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of stolen property, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia.
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SALINE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the burglary of a vehicle that belonged to a Salina police officer.
Between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, someone entered the unlocked personal vehicle of a Salina police officer in the unincorporated Saline County Community Kipp, according to Sheriff Roger Solday.
The suspect took a the officers's badge, ballistic vest, a taser, a body camera, a Kenwood portable radio, a Glock 9mm hand gun, flashlight, 52 rounds of 9mm ammunition, OC spray (pepper spray), an ASP expandable baton, emergency tourniquet belt holder, black duty belt, a black and blue knife, a handcuff pouch and a magazine pouch
The total loss was estimated at $5,036, according to Soldan.
"We obviously take the theft of police equipment, to include a department issued handgun, extremely seriously. An Internal Affairs investigation will take place," Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson told Salina Post Wednesday.
Saline County deputies were also busy Wednesday taking two other vehicle burglary reports in Kipp and a third report near there, according to Soldan.