DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon with over two dozen convictions on new charges after a high-speed chase in Douglas County.
Just before 9:30a.m. Wednesday, a 59-year-old man wanted for an alleged parole violation driving a red pickup fled from a traffic stop near Fourth and Maine Streets in Lawrence, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff.
The suspect then led deputies on a pursuit through numerous neighborhoods in central Lawrence near the University of Kansas campus and into east Lawrence before returning to the west side of town.
Due to the traffic in Old West Lawrence and the suspect ignoring multiple traffic laws, a deputy discontinued pursuit.
Deputies later found the pickup near Ninth and Mississippi and then found the suspect Russell Aloysius Van Wey hiding in the area. Deputies took him into custody on the warrant. He also faces additional charges for the pursuit.
Van Wey has over two dozen previous felony convictions that include forgery, theft, burglary, aggravated escape from custody and criminal threat, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. He absconded from parole in July.