RAWLINS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a suspect who stole a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle in Rawlins County.
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 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.
Swartwout remains jailed on requested charges of Possession of Stolen Property, Fleeing or attempting to elude, Interference with LEO, Criminal Damage to property, Reckless Driving, Speeding, Driving on left in a no passing zone and Improper Driving on laned roadway, according to online jail records.
There were no injuries to law enforcement and the KHP vehicle did not sustain any damage, according to Hileman.