Police in Ellinwood, Kansas were called to handle an abandoned vehicle on Tuesday. KSN reports that shortly after they impounded the car, the police officers received calls about someone driving a combine harvester recklessly, east of Ellinwood.
According to the reports, the combine was weaving erratically from ditch to ditch on the highway. The combine struck a guy wire and caused damage to power poles on the road.
The combine truck eventually entered the city of Ellinwood, and the driver drove through a residential neighborhood, causing more damage to power poles and private property, including a 2005 Chevrolet truck parked on the road.
An Ellinwood Police officer tried to talk to the driver, but the driver put the machine in reverse and rammed the officer’s squad car.
The driver fled the scene in the combine and a chase ensued. The driver continued driving through the city, which prompted a Sheriff’s deputy to set up a road block. The suspect ran through the road block, damaging the police vehicle that was blocking the road, and caused more damage.
The deputy and the Ellinwood Police officer fired approximately 18 shots at the machine in an attempt to disable it. They managed to get the driver out and placed him under arrest.
The suspect was identified as Kenneth M. Lamb Jr., a 37-year-old Ellinwood resident.
Police say that the combine was stolen near where they found Mr. Lamb’s abandoned vehicle.
Mr. Lamb was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony theft, felony criminal damage to property, and reckless driving.
