Jan 27, 2020

Kan. man hospitalized from K9 wounds during arrest after high-speed chase

Posted Jan 27, 2020 2:00 AM
Martez Ricks
Martez Ricks

CLARK COUNTY, Kan. — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a high speed chase in a rural Kansas field.

Just after 2p.m. Friday, Clark County Undersheriff Wally Long made a traffic stop on a 2018 Jeep with Colorado tags just East of Minneola on U.S. 54, according to a media release.

When the officer went to exit his vehicle, the Jeep left at a high rate of speed eastbound on U.S. 54 attempting to flee from the officer and the stop.

Undersheriff Long pursued the vehicle. At that point another vehicle, a 2007 Gold Cadillac attempted to move over into the way of the pursuing patrol unit. The Jeep left the highway and drove south into a field. The Cadillac then got in front of the pursing officer and attempted to block him from pursuing the Jeep.

The Undersheriff drove around the Cadillac and continued to pursue the Jeep that was located in a field approx. 2 ½ miles South of U.S. 54, just west of the Ford/Clark County line.

Officers from Ford and Meade County assisted in stopping the Cadillac. The driver identified as Yolanda Marie Ruiz, 29, Wichita, of the vehicle was taken into custody.

After other officers arrived on scene including Kansas Highway Patrol and Dodge City Police Department a perimeter was setup and a police tracking K9 was deployed and tracked the driver of the Jeep which he had abandoned in the field. The driver Martez Romello Ricks, 25, Liberal, Kansas was arrested. Ricks was taken to Minneola Hospital for treatment of wounds he sustained from the K9 when taken into custody.

Ricks has spent time in prison for obstruction, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and four drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.  He was discharged in February of 2019 after some time in the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

Both Ricks and Ruiz are being held in the Clark County Jail. The case will be presented to the Clark County Attorney for formal charges to be filed in this case.