MEDIA RELEASE
FROM:
Don Scheibler
Chief of Police
Hays, KS
CONTACT PERSON:
Don Scheibler
Chief of Police
Hays Police Department
(785) 625-1030
dscheibler@haysusa.com
DATE: March 18, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBJECT: Hays Robbery Ends in Pursuit Crash on Vine Street
On March 18, 2022, at 4:59 p.m. a robbery at All the Rage Studios, 2707 Vine Street, was called into dispatch. Hays Police Department officers responded to the business to investigate. It was reported that a black male with dreadlocks and a face mask came into the business with his hand stuffed into a bag and demanded the money from the business. An employee handed the man the money and the male suspect left the area driving a black SUV with a Texas tag.
Other law enforcement started looking for the suspect’s vehicle and information was given out to the surrounding jurisdictions on the robbery suspect and his vehicle. The Russell Police Department located a black Toyota 4 Runner SUV with a Texas license plate in the McDonald’s drive thru. From running the license plate, officers were able to determine the vehicle was reported stolen out of Colorado.
The suspect vehicle fled from officers, and a pursuit was initiated that headed west bound on Interstate 70 with speeds exceeding 100 mph. Numerous attempts to deploy stop stick tire deflation devices were attempted but were unsuccessful. The suspect drove down the west bound off ramp at the 159 exit and drove onto Vine Street in Hays. The suspect continued south on Vine Street after driving through the roundabout at the off-ramp exit. As the suspect’s vehicle exited the second roundabout just south of interstate on Vine Street, the vehicle started driving south in the northbound lane, directly into oncoming traffic. Hays Police Officers interceded and stopped the suspect vehicle from continuing into oncoming traffic. Three police vehicles were damaged along with the suspect’s stolen vehicle.
The suspect was identified as 31 y.o. Irving Wozanee Brooks III from Jacksonville, Florida. Brooks was arrested and taken to the Ellis County Jail. One officer was injured and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Traffic on north Vine Street was blocked and congested to one lane for a lengthy period, causing traffic to be diverted onto interstate for a while as emergency responders worked to remove the damaged vehicles and debris from the roadway.
The Hays Police Department would like to thank the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Russell Police Department, the Russell County Sheriff’s Department, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, and the other law enforcement agencies that helped apprehend Mr. Brooks.
Irving W. Brooks III is currently being held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.