Nicholas Gregory

Laela Maze Magner

Just before 10:30 on Sunday evening, the Columbus Police Department was dispatched to Quick Shop convenience store to investigate an armed robbery, which had just occurred.

Officers arrived on scene and immediately gathered descriptive information about the suspect and the vehicle.  Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office dispatch then broadcast that information, and approximately 30 minutes later a deputy located the vehicle eastbound on Highway 160, heading towards Crestline.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused to stop, attempting to elude law enforcement.  The suspect continued to flee into Crawford County, where Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies became involved in the pursuit.  

The two occupants were taken into custody when the Chevy Cobalt, which had been reported stolen in Wichita, came to a stop north of Cherokee on Kansas Highway 7.

Arrested were:

Nicholas Jay Gregory, 32, of Wichita, who is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of Aggravated Robbery, Two Counts of Aggravated Assault, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Theft, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving While Suspended. 

Laela Maze Magner, 23, also of Wichita, also remains in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of: Aggravated Robbery, Theft and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Columbus Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office are collaborating on this investigation as it spanned all three jurisdictions.

In addition, investigators are working with other Kansas law enforcement agencies who have expressed an interest in the suspects alleged activities within their jurisdictions.

The suspects arrested should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.