MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Kan. — A Cherryvale man faces a litany of felony charges after leading law enforcement on a dramatic, two-day game of cat-and-mouse involving multiple stolen off-road vehicles, high-speed pursuits, and a foot chase through a cornfield.
Jeremiah McKenzie, 40, was taken into custody without incident southwest of Independence, Kansas, ending an extensive manhunt that drew resources from multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Initial Pursuits
The saga began just after 10 p.m. on July 3, when a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted McKenzie operating a red ATV near Lamont Street and Hill Street in Dearing, Kansas. The vehicle had recently been reported stolen from the area. Recognizing McKenzie, the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but McKenzie refused to pull over and fled. The deputy was forced to call off the brief pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle due to McKenzie’s reckless driving and evasive maneuvers.
The respite was brief. Later that same night, a second deputy spotted McKenzie riding the same stolen ATV north of Tyro, Kansas, near County Road 2700 and County Road 3200.
When the second deputy attempted a traffic stop, McKenzie fled again. This time, the pursuit led onto a residential property, where McKenzie abandoned the ATV and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield and heavily wooded area.
Drones Deployed in Cornfield Search
Deputies quickly established a tight perimeter and launched an intensive ground search. To navigate the dense terrain, the Sheriff’s Office called in drone resources from the Kansas Highway Patrol – Troop H. Despite hours of searching through the night, law enforcement was unable to locate McKenzie, and the active search was temporarily suspended.
A Tip Leads to an Arrest
The breakthrough came two days later, just after 10 a.m. on July 5, when the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that McKenzie was hiding out at a residence southwest of Independence.
As deputies scrambled to the scene, they received updated intelligence indicating that McKenzie had allegedly struck again, stealing another vehicle—either an ATV or a side-by-side utility vehicle—to escape.
Deputies redirected their response to a neighboring property just south of County Road 4200. Upon arrival, law enforcement successfully located McKenzie and arrested him without further incident. Investigators later confirmed that McKenzie had indeed stolen a side-by-side utility vehicle belonging to a resident nearby to facilitate his secondary escape.
Charges Filed
McKenzie was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. He has been booked on a long list of requested charges, including:
- Two counts of Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
- Two counts of Felony Theft
- Three counts of Possession of Stolen Property
- Burglary
- Driving While Suspended
- Multiple additional traffic violations
