Prairie Village Police say a stolen SUV was involved in two hit-and-run crashes in Mission Hills early Friday morning.
A suspect ran from the vehicle after ramming into a tree in a residence’s front yard on Belinder Avenue, but a search by police ended with no arrests.
The first crash happened near 71st and Belinder
- Capt. Eric McCullough, a spokesperson for Prairie Village Police, says the stolen SUV was first involved in a non-injury crash at 71st Street and Belinder Avenue in Mission Hills. (Prairie Village Police provide law enforcement services in Mission Hills.)
- The SUV then continued north on Belinder.
A suspect fled on foot after crashing into a tree
- McCullogh said the SUV then “left the roadway” in the 6500 block of Belinder near the Belinder Fountain roundabout and struck a tree.
- A white male driver reportedly fled westbound on foot from the scene.
The suspect was not found Friday morning
- Officers from Prairie Village and Leawood set a perimeter in the area to contain the suspect.
- A K-9 from the Overland Park Police Department responded, as well, but the suspect was not found.
- “We believe there may have been another vehicle with the stolen SUV that picked the suspect up and fled the area,” McCullough said.
- Officers called off their search and released the perimeter just before 9 a.m.
The SUV was first reported stolen in Overland Park
- Prior to Friday’s crashes, the SUV had been reported from a duplex near 78th Street and Grandview Street on Thursday morning.
- The vehicle was reportedly left running unattended when it was taken.
- “The best suspect description we were able to obtain was a younger white male wearing a black hoodie, black pants and carrying a backpack,” McCullough said. “There is no ongoing safety concern for the public, and no injuries have been reported.”
Mike Frizzell is a freelance crime and fire reporter who runs Operation 100 News.
