SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an arrest in Salina.
Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, a police officer driving by StuJo's Carwash, 120 North Broadway Boulevard in Salina noticed a suspect and vehicle that matched the description of those involved in a theft from Menards in Salina on Monday, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.
In that case, the suspect entered the store and left with two Schlage Sense Bluetooth door handle locks, valued at $400. The suspect, described as a man wearing a red Nike hoodie, gray sweatpants, a black hat, and black facemask, left Menards in a silver four-door hatchback station wagon type vehicle.
When the officer attempted to make contact with the wanted suspect at StuJo's, the the man disobeyed the officer's orders and left in a 1997 silver Ford Escort station wagon with a temporary tag.
Another officer located the vehicle parked in the alley behind a residence in the 100 block of South 11th Street. Officers made contact with the resident and learned the suspect, identified as Dillon Sonnier, 22, Salina, was hiding inside the house. He was located by officers hiding in a closet.
Officers then learned that on Jan. 24, other officers responded to Walmart, 2900 South Ninth Street, for the report of a theft. In that case, a suspect had taken two barcode stickers from two 10-cent tumbler cups, placed them onto two speakers valued at $288, and purchased those speakers for 20 cents, according to Forrester. The person named as the suspect in that case was Sonnier.
Police arrested Sonnier was arrested on requested charges that include Felony theft, two or more prior convictions, Theft by deception, two or more convictions, interference with law enforcement, Driving while suspended, Failure to stop at stop sign and for an Improper signal\, according to Forrester.