Two men are in custody following a high-speed pursuit across southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.
The incident began on Tuesday when deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff's Office approached a residence east of Pittsburg in an attempt to locate a Ford F-150 that had been reported stolen in Johnson County. During the investigation, 41-year-old Ryan Paine fled the residence after another vehicle arrived and picked him up. When the vehicle left at a high rate of speed, deputies followed in pursuit.
The driver of the vehicle was later identified as 49-year-old William Zimmerman of Arcadia, KS. Zimmerman led police on a chase across the state line and into Barton County, MO. The chase ended when both men abandoned the vehicle and continued to flee on foot. Crawford County deputies along with the Barton County Sheriff's Office began a five-hour long manhunt that eventually ended when both suspects were located and arrested.
Zimmerman faces charges of possession of stolen property and fleeing and eluding. Both are felonies. Payne faces a charge of felony interference with law enforcement. Both men are currently being held in the Crawford County Jail.
