Tragic Chase Ends in Suicide | Topeka News

A wild night in Jackson County ended tragically as Alden Ray Stein, 44, died by self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading deputies on a chaotic car chase through the northeast part of the county. The pursuit began at 9:30 PM, with Stein allegedly weaving through traffic and evading officers before disappearing briefly. Just before midnight, gunshots rang out near Prairie Lake—where officers found his vehicle. As police closed in, the car sped toward the lake, nearly crashing before getting stuck. Stein exited and took his own life. Already under community corrections supervision since January for a prior drug offense, Stein’s actions weren’t random—they were part of a pattern. Authorities from both Jackson and Shawnee Counties are still investigating the full scope of events as they remain tight-lipped about further details. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2026/09/12/driver-fleeing-deputies-dies-in-apparent-suicide-after-getting-stuck/91719339007/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a157ac21619edaa6 Report issues to [email protected].