The armed robbery of two Atchison businesses leads to a search of the city, and ultimately to a Topeka man who authorities say tried to flee on foot into a wooded area.

Police Chief Mike Wilson tells MSC News the alleged crimes occurred early Wednesday afternoon, about an hour apart.

“A person walked into the Verizon store in the 100 block of South 8th where there were several employees inside,” Wilson said. “He produced a gun, made a threat and demanded money.”

Wilson said he fled the store without any money and police were called immediately.

“We began looking shortly before 2 when we were called to the Subway restaurant located at 5th and U.S. 59,” Wilson added. “There an aggravated robbery had also occurred.”

Wilson says the suspect, now identified as 32-year-old Joshua Jones, fled from the restaurant behind the wheel of a vehicle, with police in pursuit.

“The vehicle went into the Branchton area where it went down a driveway of a residence where the suspect bailed out of the vehicle and ran into the wooded area,” Wilson said.

Police were then notified by a neighbor in the 1000 block of Price Blvd. of some evidence that was found in his residence.

“That led our attention to a near by residence where officers made entry,” Wilson said.

Wilson says Jones was found inside.

The vehicle he had used for his attempted getaway had been stolen earlier in the week from a Topeka car dealership.

The search was assisted by the Atchison County Sheriff's Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Jones was booked into the Atchison County Jail on charges related to his alleged crimes.