BREAKING NEWS: Hutchinson man arrested after armed robberies, police chase
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 23-year-old Hutchinson man faces multiple charges after allegedly committing two armed robberies Sunday evening before leading police on a chase that ended when he crashed a stolen vehicle into a residence and fled into an occupied home.
Malachi J. Sims was arrested after the incident that began at approximately 7:19 p.m. when Hutchinson Police Department officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of East 17th Avenue for an armed robbery report. The suspect had already fled the scene when officers arrived.
Officers and Reno County Sheriff's Office deputies began searching the area when a second robbery occurred at approximately 7:41 p.m. at a business in the 400 block of East 4th Avenue. The suspect's description matched that from the first robbery, police said.
At approximately 7:52 p.m., officers located the suspect vehicle from both robberies near 17th Avenue and Plum Street. When a deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply, leading to a pursuit.
The suspect crashed the vehicle into a residence in the 400 block of East 18th Avenue and fled into an occupied home, where he was apprehended by officers.
Investigation revealed the vehicle used by the suspect had been stolen earlier that day from 1600 Center Street.
Sims was charged with two counts each of aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, and theft of property or services valued at less than $1,500. He also faces single counts of motor vehicle theft valued between $1,500 and $24,999, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, and aggravated battery on both county and city officers.
Additional charges include aggravated burglary of a dwelling for felony purposes, felony flee and elude, felony interference with law enforcement for obstruction and evidence tampering, and felony criminal damage to property exceeding $25,000.
Sims also faces charges for driving under the influence (second conviction), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, operating without an ignition interlock device, illegal transportation of alcohol, and possession of opiates, narcotics or certain stimulants with one prior conviction.
According to Kansas Department of Corrections records, Sims has prior convictions from May 2022 in Reno County, including criminal threat, possession of opiates and narcotics, criminal carry of a concealed weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced in November 2022 and was discharged from the corrections system in February 2025.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The Hutchinson Police Department thanked the Reno County Sheriff's Office, South Hutchinson Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and Haven Police Department for their assistance in resolving the incidents.
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