ON 08-14-2017 AROUND 5:30PM THE LIBERAL POLICE CHIEF JOHN SIMPSON AND DEPUTY MATT GRIFFITT OF THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED CHASE WHICH LEFT OUT OF LIBERAL ON SOUTH STREET.
DURING THE CHASE THE SUSPECTS THREW ITEMS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CHASE ENDED JUST EAST OF PRARIE STATE PARK OUTSIDE OF LIBERAL ON NW 130TH LANE. THE SUSPECT VEHICLE TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND HEADED INTO A FIELD. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ABOUT A HALF OF A MILE OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF PRAIRIE STATE PARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED AND THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE SWUNG OPEN FIVE SUBJECTS FLED FROM THE VEHICLE.
DEPUTY GRIFFITT AND CHIEF SIMPSON TOOK CHASE AND WAS ABLE TO APPREHEND TWO OF THE SUBJECTS. DEPUTIES AND A MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER SEARCHED FOR THE OTHER THREE SUBJECTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THEM. AT APROXIMATELLY 11:15PM ON THE 14TH CHIEF SIMPSON RECEIVED A PHONE CALL OF TWO SUBJECTS WALKING ON 160 HIGHWAYS WEST OF NN HIGHWAY. CHIEF SIMPSON, DEPUTY GRIFFITT, AND A CRAWFORD COUNTY DEPUTY RESPONDED TO THE AREA AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE TWO MORE SUBJECTS INTO CUSTODY.
AT THIS TIME THERE IS ONE MORE SUBJECT WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE STILL ON FOOT IN THE AREA OF PRAIRIE STATE PARK.
THAT SUBJECT IS BELIEVED TO BE A DEREK LEE SWAN OF PITTSBURG KANSAS. A PHOTOGRAPH IS ATTACHED OF THE SUSPECT SWAN.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY INFORMATION OF THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE SUBJECT PLEASE CONTACT THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, OR YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
