GCPD arrest two after robbery

Garden City, Kan.–Two reckless drivers turned late-night stunts into chaos and ended in jail instead of glory.

Around 11:45 Friday night, the Garden City Police Department and Finney County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a kidnapping in the 3500 block of N. Campus Drive, later determined to be a robbery. As law enforcement arrived, a blacked-out Dodge Challenger sped from the area, followed shortly by a red Chrysler 300 driving recklessly on Crestway Drive. After the Chrysler ran a stop sign and turned south onto Campus Drive, Deputies initiated a police pursuit, which traveled south out of the city. The Chrysler was found abandoned in Southwind, and Deputies located the driver, identified as 21-year-old Xavier Martinez, and took him into custody.

During the pursuit, Officers received reports of a hit-and-run involving the Dodge Challenger in the 1200 block of Parkwood Lane. The Challenger struck a parked car in a driveway and the side of a house before fleeing, later found on N. 7th Street with extensive damage. During the investigation, 21-year-old Joel Arteaga III was identified as the driver, and he was located and arrested at his resident.

Further investigation revealed that Arteaga and Martinez had been together earlier in the evening, each taking turns driving the Challenger with the car’s owner and another occupant. At one point, Arteaga had struck a curb and pulled over along N. Campus Drive, and after all the occupants were out of the car, Arteaga took the keys from the owner and drove off.

Arteaga was lodged in the Finney County Jail for Robbery, Reckless Driving, Duty Upon Striking Unattended Vehicles or Objects, and other traffic offenses.

Martinez was lodged in the Finney County Jail for numerous traffic offenses stemming from the pursuit.

There were no injuries reported from the incidents.

*The person(s) involved has not yet been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent. The presumption of innocence shall continue until such time that the person(s) accused may be found guilty by a court of law.*