CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man who fled an arrest in Arkansas and was captured and hospitalized after a pursuit by officers in Kansas.
On Thursday afternoon, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office was notified that the Elk County Sheriff's Office was southbound on Kansas 99 Highway in pursuit of a stolen Kawasaki motorcycle, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The suspect later identified as 37-year-old J.D. Comstock of Little Rock, Arkansas, was believed to have fled from Greenwood and Elk County Officers, stolen multiple vehicles and was reported as possibly armed and dangerous. Pursuing officers lost sight of the suspect near the Elk/Chautauqua County line.
A short time later Chautauqua County Officers located Comstock traveling southbound on Road 14 and another pursuit was initiated. The suspect fled south to U.S. 166 Highway, five miles west of Sedan, at times going off the roadway and then fled westbound for a short distance before striking a 2022 Ram 3500 driven by Kevin Viana, 23, of Livingston, Texas.
Comstock sustained several serious injuries and pursuing officers rendered aid until Sedan EMS arrived to transport him to Wesley Medical Center.
On June 20, investigators in Baxter County Arkansas served a search warrant at 5647 Highway 5 South looking for stolen property. Investigators arrested Comstock, but he fled on foot. A deputy gave chase, but fell and was injured.
A canine team from the North Central Unit of the Arkansas Dpt. of Corrections at Calico Rock tracked Comstock to a residence on Old Tracy Road, where it was discovered he had stolen a blue Honda SUV from that residence. Deputies later found that vehicle abandoned in Fulton County, according to the Sheriff's office.