Editor’s Note – The updated story contains more detailed information on the route inside Wellington the suspect took in the police car chase Monday morning. 

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Daniel Woydziak, 34, of Wichita has been charged with fleeing and eluding, a possible felony charge, after a high speed chase going through Wellington early Wednesday morning.

At 2:15 a.m., Woydziak allegedly was driving a stolen 2000 GMC pickup southbound on the Kansas Turnpike when the Sumner County Sheriff ran a license plate check. After learning that the pickup was stolen, the police asked him to pullover. He stopped but when the deputy left his vehicle to talk to the suspect, Woydziak drove off and started a high-speed police chase.

The suspect drove onto exit ramp 19, turned west, and proceeded into Wellington on U.S. 160. The Wellington Police notified of the pursuit placed stop sticks on U.S. 160, north of the Wal-Mart. According to Sumner County Sheriff report, Woydziak eluded the stop sticks by driving around them and continued his way into town.Woydziak would then pass through the roundabout before turning north on Washington Ave., he would get to the north edge of town, loop around, and eventfully drive south on Jefferson. He would then turn west on Eighth, go north on Vandenburg, and then eventually get back onto Washington. Then, Woydziak turned east on Eighth, before going south on C Street, and eventually south to Botkin where then he drove out of town.

Two police cars were following him with two cars on parallel streets. Once on Botkin, Woydziak headed south toward the Wellington Sanitation Landfill.

Eventually, Woydziak lost control of the pickup, which left the roadway and went through a barbed wire fence before the pickup came to a rest in the field south of the dump. He then fled on foot.

Westmoreland said the Sheriff Office conducted a drone search and eventually the suspect was located behind the trees. He was taken into custody at 3:45 a.m. the report said. He is currently in Sumner County Jail.

Woydziak had previous warrants for his arrest in Sedgwick County. Westmoreland said he did not know what those charges were.