Norton Police Department
At approximately 9:13 p.m. on Friday, Norton Police responded to reports of a man with a gun in the 300 block of Ward Avenue. A resident advised the dispatcher that there was a male subject walking in the area carrying a firearm.
Upon arrival the responding officer began to search the area known as “Pool Park” near North West Street and West Wilton Street for the individual and as he searched the area the officer was fired upon. Multiple rounds struck the patrol unit, but the officer was able to make his way to cover and was not injured. As additional officers responded to the area other shots were fired as officers began to try and isolate the shooter.
As officers swept the park, they discovered that 47-year-old Norton resident, Joseph A. Sweet, had been shot and killed in the park. Officers continued to search for the gunman and additional 911 calls about the man lead police to U.S. Highway 36 near the west edge of Norton where the suspect was spotted walking on the highway. The subject was confronted by a Norton Police Officers and the suspect fired multiple shots at these officers. An officer’s vehicle was struck several times, but the officer was uninjured.
The subject fled towards a subdivision in northwest Norton as Norton Police, the Norton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the new scene along and north of U.S 36. As police continued to search for the suspect he stole a vehicle from a residence and fled westbound on Highway 36 at speeds over 100 mph. Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle into Decatur County and the individual who was driving the vehicle was eventually taken into custody without further incident approximately 5 miles north of Oberlin at approximately 12:41 a.m. on Saturday.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Norton Police Department with the multiple crime scenes within the City of Norton. There are also scenes to be processed in Norton County and Decatur County. Numerous area law enforcement agencies sent officers to Norton to assist NPD due to the nature and scope of this incident. All crime scenes have now been processed and the investigation is continuing.
The suspect has been identified as Bobby J. Tallent, 37, Norton. He appeared before the District Court Magistrate Sunday night for a determination of probable cause for his arrest and detention. Tallent is being held in the Norton County Jail on the following charges: murder in the first degree, three counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement, burglary, theft, and felony flee and elude. His bond is currently set at $1 million.