On Saturday, February 25, 2025 deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office were notified that Troopers with the Kansas Highway Patrol were in pursuit of a vehicle in Neosho County, Kansas near 60^th and Trego Road.

Deputies responded to the area to assist in case the pursuit entered Crawford County.

As deputies were arriving in the area, Crawford County Dispatch was notified that Troopers had pursued the vehicle into a field and through a creek before crashing the vehicle. The driver ran on foot.

A short while later, the driver allegedly stole a UTV and fled the area eastbound toward Crawford County.

Law Enforcement followed the tracks eastbound. A deputy in the area of S. 20^th and W. 560^th Avenue located the suspect on the UTV and attempted to stop it, but the suspect refused and fled through a field.

A short time later, the UTV became disabled and the suspect fled on foot.

Troopers with the Kansas Highway Patrol, Deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Game Wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism set a perimeter to contain the suspect in the area of S. 30^th and W. 570^th Avenue.

An aircraft from the Kansas Highway Patrol’s Air Support Unit responded to the area.

The suspect was eventually located by Troopers and a Game Warden was able to take the suspect into custody.

The suspect as identified as Taran Lapiere, 24, of Fort Scott, Kansas. Lapiere was seen by Crawford County EMS after complaining of injuries sustained during the crash. Lapiere was transported by Crawford County EMS to Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas.

For further information regarding this incident, inquiries should be directed to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.