HUMBOLDT — Teams of law enforcement officers descended upon Humboldt Wednesday afternoon for a manhunt that led to the arrest of a suspect in a Nov. 28 burglary in Iola.
With use of a Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft equipped with infrared cameras, officers found Orion Nicholas, 24, Humboldt, hiding in a secluded area near the intersection of Sixth and Franklin Streets, Allen County deputies reported.
The manhunt began not long after Humboldt Police Chief Shannon Moore and another officer spotted Nicholas at a local residence.
As they approached the house, Moore said Nicholas fled the house.
Other officers, as well as sheriff’s deputies, and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took part in the search, canvassing the neighborhood house by house.
Because of their proximity to the manhunt, Humboldt schools were put on a “soft” lockdown, USD 258 announced via Facebook, which meant student recess periods were held indoors, and middle-schoolers taking part in afternoon activities rode a bus instead of walking to their destination.
There was no threat to the schools, district officials noted.
The KHP airplane dispatched from Wichita detected movement in a heavily wooded area near Sixth and Franklin streets. Officers on the ground spotted Nicholas at about 3:10 p.m. He was arrested without further incident.
Nicholas was the second suspect taken into custody from the Nov. 28 burglary.
On Dec. 8, deputies arrested Payton Craft, 23, at his home on South Third Street in Iola. While he was being taken into custody, deputies found what they described as methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Craft’s possession.
Both are being held in the Allen County Jail. Craft is being held on a $25,000 bond. Nicholas is being held without bond until his case is heard by a judge.
“It was great to see all of these departments come together to make this happen without even requesting help,” Moore said via Facebook. “This should make our community feel safe to know that so many work together to get the best outcome that we can.”
