Police chase through Topeka ends with 2 in custody

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A Topeka man was arrested on numerous charges following a police chase Friday morning.

Rosie Nichols, a spokeswoman for the Topeka Police Department, reports that officers tried to pull over a vehicle for driving recklessly around 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 near the intersection of Southwest 9th St. and Southwest Parkview St. The pursuit was ended by law enforcement due to excessive speeds a short time later.

Nichols said officers spotted the vehicle again near the intersection of Southeast 6th St. and Southeast Golden Ave. and tried to pull it over again. A second pursuit began before the driver lost control near the intersection of Southwest 17th St. and Southwest Washburn Ave., crashing into a tree and light pole. The driver then tried to flee the area on foot but was taken into custody by officers at the scene.

The driver, later identified by police as Alejandro R. Rodriguez, 23, of Topeka, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following charges:

• Defective muffler
• Racing on highways
• Reckless driving
• Fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer
• Flee or attempt to elude, avoid tire deflation device
• Fail to stop at a stop sign
• Interference with a law enforcement officer
• Speeding
• Driving while license suspended
• Transport open container of liquor
• Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol

A passenger in the vehicle, Julian A. Galicia, 22, of Topeka, was also arrested on a Shawnee County warrant. No injuries were reported with this incident.