Police identify, arrest man wanted for December burglary, rape

GARDEN CITY, Kan. — The Garden City Police Department has announced an arrest of a man identified as a suspect in connection with a Dec. 18 burglary and rape has been arrested. The arrest was made by the Goodland Police Department. 

The incident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 18 when police were dispatched to a residence after a call came in for a reported residential burglary in progress. The suspect fled the scene and had been on the run ever since. GCPD was given a very good description of the suspect at that point in time.

“A tip was received from a citizen who recognized the vehicle from a recent social media post by the Garden City Police Department,” GCPD Sergeant Lana Urteaga said. “Officers received additional information as to where the driver and the vehicle were located.”

The suspect, 45-year-old, Michael Couch was located and taken into custody on Saturday, Dec. 29 in Sherman County. He had been held in Sherman County on local charges before being transported to the Finney County Jail. His bond is set at $900,000.00.

He will face charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, rape and aggravated battery.