Anderson County homicide suspect killed in crash during Saturday police chase in Kiowa County

GREENSBURG, Kan. (WIBW) - A man sought in connection with a Thursday homicide in Anderson County was killed in a crash that occurred during a police chase Saturday night in Kiowa County in southwest Kansas, authorities said.

The Ford left the roadway to the right and entered the south ditch, where it struck a field entrance, went airborne, and rolled over.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, troopers around 9:03 p.m. Friday located a stolen 2009 Ford Focus traveling east on US-54 highway in Kiowa County.

The vehicle and its occupant, Jerry Wayne Thompson, 55, of Tidewater, Ore., were being sought in connection with a homicide investigation in the city of Kincaid in Anderson County, officials said.

As troopers prepared to conduct a traffic stop, Thompson pulled over to the shoulder of the highway about 5 miles west of Greensburg.

After a trooper made verbal contact with the Thompson, officials said, he fled from the scene in the car and a pursuit ensued.

The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office successfully deployed stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle just west of Greensburg, officials said.

At 9:09 p.m. Saturday, the Ford left the roadway to the right and entered the south ditch, where it struck a field entrance, went airborne, and rolled over.

Thompson, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the car.

He was transported to Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, where he was pronounced dead.

The patrol said a loaded gun was recovered from the crash scene.

The Kansas Highway Patrol’s Critical Highway Accident Response Team responded to the scene, and this crash remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, Anderson County sheriff’s officials said in a news release that deputies conducted a check-welfare call on Thursday at a residence in the 300 block of 1st Street in Kincaid, a city of 103 people located about 19 miles southeast of Garnett.

After they arrived at that location, the deputies found 36-year-old Sheila Kendall, originally of Georgia, dead at the residence, officials said.

During the investigation, the death was ruled as a homicide.

With the combined efforts of the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office and Garnett Police Department, Thompson -- who owned the residence -- was identified as a person of interest in the homicide.

On Friday, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thyompson’s involvement in the case.

The Anderson County Attorney’s Office then issued an arrest warrant for Thompson.

Anderson County sheriff’s officials said law enforcement officers in the Kiowa County area located the vehicle Thompson was driving and attempted to take him into custody on Saturday night.

During a police chase, the car Thompson was driving was involved in a fatality crash.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office credited the Anderson County Attorney’s Office; the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office; the Garnett Police Department; the Kansas Highway Patrol; the Oregon State Patrol; and the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office for their support in the investigation.

Additional details weren’t available Monday morning.

Check wibw.com later for more information as it becomes available.