Two charged in I-35 chase in Franklin, Johnson counties

OTTAWA, Kan. — The Franklin County Attorney’s Office has charged two men following a chase and shots being fired at law enforcement last week on Interstate 35 .

Carlos Montano-Diaz, 43, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is charged with unlawful distribution of methamphetamine and fleeing from police. No bond has been set at this time.

Formal charges are still pending in Johnson County against Montano-Diaz for the shooting. A case alleging aggravated assault and felony interference with law enforcement has been forwarded to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Frank Rinderknecht Jr., 55, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is charged with unlawful distribution of methamphetamine and speeding. He’s being held on a $500,000 cash bond.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop someone for speeding on I-35, near Utah Road on Tuesday, April 9. While talking with the people inside the vehicle, deputies became suspicious of drug possession and/or use.

The driver of the vehicle, Rinderknecht, was removed from the vehicle for questioning. When deputies returned to the vehicle to question the passenger, Montano-Diaz, he locked the doors and moved to the driver’s seat and drove away.

Rinderknecht was detained at the scene.

Deputies began chasing the suspect vehicle north on I-35. During the chase, Montano-Diaz allegedly fired a handgun at deputies on at least two occasions, according to the sheriff’s office.

Montano-Diaz then lost control of the vehicle and crashed on I-35 near Moonlight Road in Gardner. He then ran into a wooded area before being taken into custody.

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