A very busy weekend for local law enforcement began Saturday morning, June 25the. Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop a car on I-35 and suspected the vehicle was transporting illegal immigrants. The vehicle fled from the scene and as the pursuit neared Ottawa, spike strips were deployed and flattened the tires on the suspect vehicle. They exited the highway and it all came to a head in Ottawa at Love’s Truck Stop. Ottawa Police Chief, Adam Weingartner:
The suspect… armed with a knife, entered an unlocked truck. Fortunately the driver of the truck was able to exit safely and quickly. After a three and a half hour standoff, a less-lethal munitions device was deployed into the cab of the truck and Estrada was arrested.
Locally, 39 year old Rebecca Estrada of Albuquerque , New Mexico, has been charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine and felony interference with law enforcement. Further charges are pending from Lyon County.
Based on the initial investigation, Estrada was smuggling several citizens from Countries south of the United States boarder, to various states east of Kansas. After an extensive search, on the ground and in the air, with the use of a Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft, two of those subjects were found, hiding in the weeds near the Eisenhower Road exit. Those subjects have been identified and the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency has been notified.
