Written By: Mike McKenna / Press Release Published Date: 03-20-2022
Officers from the Russell Police Department and Russell County Sheriff’s Office both got involved in an arrest that took place in Hays on Friday, March 18.
According to a release by the Hays Police Department, a robbery at All the Rage Studios was called into Hays dispatch shortly before 5 PM. Hays Police Department officers responded to the business to investigate. It was reported that a black male with dreadlocks and a face mask came into the business with his hand stuffed into a bag and demanded the money from the business. An employee handed the man the money and the male suspect left the area driving a black SUV with a Texas tag.
Law enforcement started looking for the suspect’s vehicle and information was given out to the surrounding jurisdictions on the robbery suspect and his vehicle. The Russell Police Department located a black Toyota 4Runner SUV with a Texas license plate in the McDonald’s drive thru. From running the license plate, officers were able to determine the vehicle was reported stolen out of Colorado.
The suspect vehicle fled from officers and a pursuit was initiated that headed west bound on Interstate 70 with speeds exceeding 100 mph. Numerous attempts to deploy stop stick tire deflation devices were attempted, but unsuccessful. The suspect drove down the west bound off ramp at Exit 159 and drove onto Vine Street in Hays. The suspect continued south on Vine Street after driving through the roundabout at the off-ramp exit. As the suspect’s vehicle exited the second roundabout just south of interstate on Vine Street, the vehicle started driving south in the northbound lane, directly into oncoming traffic. Hays Police Officers interceded and stopped the suspect vehicle from continuing into oncoming traffic. Three police vehicles were damaged along with the suspect’s stolen vehicle.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Irving Wozanee Brooks III from Jacksonville, Florida. He was arrested and taken to Ellis County Jail.
One officer was injured and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Traffic on north Vine Street was blocked and congested to one lane for a lengthy period, causing traffic to be diverted onto interstate for a while as emergency responders worked to remove the damaged vehicles and debris from the roadway.
The Hays Police Department thanks the Kansas Highway Patrol, Russell Police Department, Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Ellis County Sheriff’s Department and the other law enforcement agencies that helped apprehend Brooks.
Brooks is currently being held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.