NOVEMBER 29, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE 19-1124
CONTACT: SHERIFF TIM MORSE @ 785-364-2251
TWO BROTHERS ARRESTED WITH TWO STOLEN VEHICLES
At approximately 1:30 Friday morning, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer on 150th Road west of Mayetta for a traffic infraction. The driver Eric Dean McCracken, 36, of Topeka was arrested at the scene for driving while suspended and was transported to the Jackson County Jail.
Shortly before 5 am, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office of a stolen 2015 Chevy Silverado that they were tracking by GPS. The stolen vehicle was headed north on US 75 Hwy. An off duty Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy in his personal vehicle began following the vehicle into Holton where a Holton Police Officer attempted to stop the vehicle on Banner Road. The vehicle fled driving through yards and stopped behind the former Country Mart Store where the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies and Holton Police Officers set up a perimeter north of Banner to 3rd Street. A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 began to track the suspect when, Undersheriff Darrel Chapman observed the suspect inside the Casey’s General Store on Arizona. Deputies and Police Officers arrived and took the man into custody. The man was identified as Keith Ray McCracken, 32, of Topeka and is the brother of the earlier suspect, Eric Dean McCracken.
It is believed that the younger McCracken was enroute to the Jackson County Jail to post bail on his older brother in a stolen vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office checked with Jefferson County authorities in regard to the Trailblazer that Eric McCracken was arrested in since it was not registered to McCracken, but was registered to a Meriden address. The owner of the Trailblazer was not aware his vehicle was missing at the time of the stop and later reported it stolen. Both brothers are in the Jackson County Jail awaiting bond. Eric Dean McCracken was booked into the jail for driving while suspended and possession of stolen property. Keith Ray McCracken is being held for fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, driving while suspended and possession of stolen property.