Sheriff’s Office social accounts usually stick to straightforward public updates, but Sedgwick County’s admin took a more lighthearted approach while informing residents about the arrest of a man accused of ‘surfing naked’ on top of a moving train.
It’s not exactly the kind of incident most people expect to read about in a local law enforcement post.
According to authorities, Union Pacific railroad employees contacted the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office after reporting unusual activity on Thursday, July 16. Deputies say the man allegedly entered a Union Pacific locomotive by breaking a window before climbing on top of it without clothing.
The incident unfolded in Sedgwick County, Kansas, home to more than half a million residents and the state’s largest city, Wichita. Railroad-related trespassing is treated seriously in Kansas, where entering or remaining on railroad property without consent can be charged as a misdemeanor, and cases involving significant damage can rise to felony level.
In the statement, posted to Facebook, the admin penned: “Greetings Sedgwick County.
“For those of you who had the unfortunate experience of seeing this gentleman surfing naked on top of a moving locomotive yesterday, I want you to know that he was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges.”
The post then identified the suspect and described what deputies say happened next.
“Daniel Ray Ballance of Quartzsite, AZ decided to visit our County yesterday via the Union Pacific Railroad after he broke a window on a locomotive and entered it,” the post continued.
“To some he blew the horn, to others he showed a little too much.”
The Facebook update also said Daniel ‘expressed his love for vodka, beer, and playing the Banjo’.
“Unfortunately, we had to separate him from those loves and the train ride. Instead Daniel is spending some time at an all expenses paid stay in jail, where he is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the post concluded, before the admin told everyone to ‘have a good night’.
The message, which also included train- and police-themed symbols, had gathered 1.3k likes, 160 comments and 377 shares at the time of writing.
Plenty of commenters appreciated the humorous tone, with one writing: “Not sure I ever thought I’d see a headline like this for local news.”
Another said: “Kudos to Sedgewick County Sheriff’s office for relating to people through humor!”
“Sometimes you think you have seen it all! In this case I guess you have!!!” a third comment read.
A fourth person added: “I love the sense of humor they have!” while another wrote: “Love love love how you guys are presenting these situations!!”
As noted by the Sheriff’s Office, the man is facing both felony and misdemeanor charges, according to authorities. Under Kansas law, trespassing on railroad property can carry misdemeanor penalties, and more serious cases involving damage to railroad property can be charged as a felony.