One?man did his best to counter the old adage that you can’t fight city hall by driving his car through the first floor of Wichita City Hall early Monday morning.
Marcus L. Johnson, 31, Wichita, then surrendered inside the city hall parking garage after crashing through the east doors of city hall, driving on through the first floor between the elevators and exiting out of the west doors, according to the Wichita Community Relations Office.
No one was injured but significant damage was caused to the security area and glass doors on the east and west sides of the building.
Johnson was actually confronted about 12:15 a.m. by a patrol officer who found his unoccupied Lincoln Town Car at the gas pumps at QuikTrip on E. Harry with loud music blaring. The officer told Johnson to turn the radio down. He argued. She told him to leave.
As he was getting ready to drive out, police said Johnson commented he was going to drive his car “into city hall.” The office attempted to follow him but lost him and went back to QT to contact 911.
About 20 minutes later, a different officer spotted the car and suspect and tried to stop him. Johnson sped off with the officer in pursuit. About 12:37 a.m., the car turned onto city hall property and crashed through the building. Johnson was arrested for evading and eluding police, reckless driving and destruction of property.
Property and equipment damaged was part of up to $8 million in security enhancements to?be completed in three phases. Construction of exterior security is scheduled to begin this summer. City hall was open normal business hours today
