By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
A Great Bend man was arrested Oct. 8 in Hays after an alleged string of thefts that trace back to central Kansas.
Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said officers arrested 37-year-old Mark Allen Ray after he allegedly stole $655.11 in merchandise from Walmart. Greenwood said Ray was later located on Interstate 70, where he was allegedly uncooperative with law enforcement.
Hays police, assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Ellis County Sheriff's Department, performed a high-risk stop, directing Ray to exit the vehicle from a safe distance.
Greenwood said once Ray was taken into custody, officers allegedly found drugs and paraphernalia in his possession. He added Ray had prior open cases for similar alleged thefts in Hutchinson and McPherson, which elevated this case to a felony theft involving a common scheme.
Ray faces charges of alleged felony theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property and interference with law enforcement.