During the morning hours of April 22nd, 2024 the Clay County 911 Dispatch Center received an attempt to locate from the Kansas Highway Patrol. KHP advised they had a car chase initiated from a traffic stop conducted by a KHP Trooper in McPherson County. The fleeing vehicle, a black Dodge pickup was last seen traveling northbound on K15 from Abilene. KHP provided license plate information for the black Dodge.
At 9:40am a Clay County Deputy conducted a traffic stop with a black Dodge pickup bearing the tag given to our dispatcher from KHP. The traffic stop occurred on K15 near 9th Road in Clay County.
The vehicle fled the traffic stop and our deputy pursued with emergency lights and siren. A Clay Center Police Officer set up tire deflation devices at K15 and 16th Road. The fleeing vehicle took to the ditch and avoided the devices. Two Clay Center Police Officers then entered the pursuit.
The chase continued north on K15 through Clay Center, Clay County and in Washington County on K15. A Washington County Deputy set up tire deflation devices south of Linn on K15. The fleeing black Dodge pickup again took to the ditch and avoided the devices. Washington County Deputies took over the pursuit. The Clay County Deputy dropped out of the chase. The Clay Center Police Vehicle was involved in a traffic accident while in Washington County. KHP worked the accident.
The fleeing black Dodge pickup left the roadway of K15 near the south end of the City of Washington. The black Dodge vaulted from a private drive and rolled several times after landing. All occupants were accounted for by Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Clay County Sheriff, Alan Benninga
On April 22nd, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office became aware that officers from the Clay Center Police Department and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office were in a high-speed chase with a vehicle, and said vehicle was traveling northbound on highway K15. Officers responded and joined the chase, which entered Washington County on K9/K15.
The chase involved speeds in excess of 100mph, along with erratic and reckless driving by the suspect vehicle. Multiple vehicles were also run off the roadway. Stop Sticks were deployed around the Linn area, and were not successful, with the suspect vehicle going off the roadway to avoid them. It was during this time and location that the Clay Center Police Department patrol car was involved in an accident, with no injury to the officer and minor damage to the vehicle.
Upon reaching the south side of Washington, on K15 at Industrial Park Dr, the suspect vehicle lost control on the east side of the roadway causing it to enter the ditch at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then collided with an embankment causing it to go airborne and roll over, coming to rest on the north side of the intersection. Responding to the scene were Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office, Clay Co. Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Co. Sheriff’s Office K9, Kansas Highway Patrol, Washington Fire Dept, Washington EMS, Linn EMS and KS Dept of Transportation. There were three occupants in the suspect vehicle, a 2022 Ram 1500 pickup; the driver Robert D Allen of Bellevue, WA, a passenger Rylee L Linders of Bellevue, WA, and a female juvenile passenger. All occupants were injured and transported to the Washington County Hospital.
In the course of the investigation, it was found that the suspect vehicle had fled from law enforcement earlier in the day as well, before coming to Clay and then Washington counties. The driver, Robert D Allen, was found to have a felony warrant out of Washington State for Escape from Custody and Assault. Allen is currently in the custody of the Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office for the out-of-state warrant and multiple pending charges from the incident occurring on this date. This incident is an ongoing investigation and no further information will be disseminated at this time. Our office would like to thank the multiple agencies involved, all of the assistance is greatly appreciated.
Justin Cordry, Sheriff
Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office
