A 34-year-old Salina man was arrested on suspicion of methamphetamine possession and interference after an incident at a local convenience store Saturday night.

Officers were sent to Casey’s, 1100 E. Iron, at 8 p.m Saturday for the report of a man who allegedly was attempting to break into one of the vehicle vacuums and steal the change inside, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Monday. When officers arrived, they found that Andrew Whitmer, 34, had just chained his bicycle to a vacuum, Forrester said.

During the course of the interview, however, officers ran a warrant check on Whitmer and discovered that he had an active warrant from Saline County District Court, Forrester explained. Officers handcuffed Whitmer, and while they were searching him before putting him into a police vehicle, they located several bags of what appeared to be methamphetamine and a scale, Forrester said.

At that point, Whitmer decided to flee and headed northwest into the parking lot of Salina Wholesale Liquor at East Iron Avenue and North Ohio Street, where he faceplanted and was again taken into custody, Forrester said. After being treated by EMS, Whitmer was taken to the Saline County Jail, Forrester said.

According to Forrester, Whitmer was arrested on suspicion of the following.

• Felony interference of a law enforcement officer
• Possession of a stimulant with the intent to distribute
• Possession of drug paraphernalia