FALLS CITY –  Judge Julie Smith reduced the bond for 23-year-old Gerion Young of Kansas City from $75,000 to $50,000.

Young had asked for a bond of $10,000, but Deputy Richardson County Attorney Samantha Scheitel said the state is concerned that he is a flight risk.

Young is charged with theft and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest in August.

Court records say a Richardson County deputy attempted to stop two SUVs on Highway 75, but the vehicles fled at over 100 mph.

A sheriff’s deputy was staged to deploy spike strips at Dawson, but an affidavit says the lead vehicle left the roadway to drive at the deputy. The deputy was able to spike the vehicle’s tires near 710 Trail and it later went into a Highway 75 ditch. The second SUV briefly stopped on the roadway.

A deputy passed the second vehicle, got in front and exited the vehicle to shout commands. The affidavit says the driver of the Buick Enclave drove at the deputy and swerved out of the way to continue on the highway.

The driver of the lead vehicle, which had been reported stolen out of Lincoln, fled on foot. A Brown County K9 handler assisted in tracking the suspect, but he escaped into a corn field. Young was later found walking along the highway.

Young denied being in a pursuit. He said he was walking along the road because his girlfriend kicked him out of the car.

Police say a receipt showing Young clocking in at a McDonald’s in St. Joseph was found in the lead vehicle.