By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

A chase that began near Hays led to the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of a stolen vehicle following a high-speed pursuit that ended in Ness County.

At 1:57 p.m. Tuesday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull over 2009 Chevy Impala on Interstate 70 near the Highway 183 Alternate exit, according to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman.

The Impala was clocked at 99 mph, and when the trooper ran a check on the license plate, it was found to have been stolen.

Initially, the driver of the Impala, Ian M. Sinnett, 39, Salina, stopped the vehicle on U.S. 183 Alternate. However, neither Sinnett nor a passenger in the vehicle, Valerie Jo Waggoner, 37, Salina, would comply with officer commands, and Sinnett again started driving south.

They traveled on U.S. 183 to County Line Road then began turning west and south on various county roads while being pursued until around 2:30 p.m. when the vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of GG Road and Kansas Highway 4, Hileman said.

After stopping, the suspects complied with officers and were taken into custody.

Sinnett was found to have two active warrants from Reno County and has a criminal history that includes theft and burglary dating to 2014.

In 2017, he was convicted of felony theft stemming from two separate felony cases that were charged against him after he tried to sell automotive parts that he had stolen to the brother of the victim.

He was released on parol on March 25, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Along with the 2017 convictions, Sinnett was also found guilty of falsely reporting a crime in 2015 and theft in 2014.

He has also been arrested several times for alleged parole violations in Saline County.

The police pursuit is expected to lead to Sinnett being charged with allegedly fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, along with several traffic and speeding violations, according to Hileman.

Waggoner also has a criminal history, having been convicted of theft and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia in 2014. She was discharged from parole on August 22, 2016, but was arrested in Septemeber of last year for allegedly driving while being a habitual violator and no proof of insurance or vehicle registration.

“What happens now is up to the county attorneys,” Hileman said.

The recovered vehicle was confirmed to have been stolen from Lawrence on June 10 by Lawerence police Sgt. Amy Rhoads.

Stolen 911, a website that helps individuals recover stolen property, gives an account of the alleged theft.

“Two subjects, one male and one female that I met earlier in the day on the northeast side of Topeka, were staying at the Days Inn in Lawrence,” the report said.

“While I was in the bathroom, the female subject yelled that they were taking my car to go to McDonald’s. Before I was able to tell them no, they grabbed my keys from a table in the room and left with my car and did not return.”

The victim believed at the time they might be heading to Portland, Ore.

“The car was a gift from my father who passed away a little over two years ago,” the report said. “It was his pride and joy. I’m a disabled man with congestive heart failure.”

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Despite the bangs and booms from fireworks, Ellis County emergency responders reported no major fires or injuries during the holiday celebrations Thursday night in Ellis County.

“It would seem to be a pretty normal Fourth of July night for our staff,” said Brian Dawson, Hays deputy chief of police. “Usually it’s a busy night…It’s nice to see that we didn’t have people getting too out of control and people getting hurt.”

Dawson did not have an official count of fireworks-related calls available Friday but noted several calls for fireworks violations.

The majority of those calls, however, did not result in citations being issued.

“Most of the time it is going to be warnings and educating the community on violations,” Dawson said.

Hays Fire Department officials were unavailable for comment on Friday, but scanner traffic Thursday indicated only a few minor incidents in the city.

Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers said in rural Ellis County the department was only dispatched on two fireworks-related calls, both relatively minor as well.

He reported a fire broke out near Schoenchen that burned approximately half an acre of wheat stubble and a dumpster fire at an area business related to expended fireworks that had not been fully extinguished.

Ellis County EMS officials were also unavailable for comment Friday, but Myers said he was not aware of any injuries being reported to EMS.

“That’s about as best as you can ask for,” Myers said.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

ELLIS – A vehicle reported stolen from a residence in Ellis on Tuesday has been recovered, and the suspect has been caught after being identified while walking near a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in Logan County.

The suspect, Cruz Morrell, was found to be wanted on a nationwide search warrant from South Dakota, according to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.

Somewhere between 11:30 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday, a 2001 Buick was stolen from a driveway in a neighborhood on the south side of Ellis, Yates said. The vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside the center console.

“How this vehicle was chosen, I have no idea,” Yates said. Where Morrell was located prior to the theft and what his intentions were are also unknown at this time.

After taking the vehicle, Morrell drove west on U.S. 40 out of Ellis, stopping at a Winona gas station where he allegedly stole fuel.

He then turned around and headed back east on U.S. 40, ultimately ending up getting the car stuck on a county road, Yates said.

Morrell then abandoned the vehicle and began walking in Logan County.

While walking, he passed near a state trooper who recognized him from footage from the gas station and was arrested, Yates said.

The Ellis Police Department was following the reports from Logan County after a partial match had been made on the license plate number from the vehicle at the gas station.

Once a positive identification was made, Yates took custody of Morrell from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

“We later found through interview and investigation … he had a nationwide warrant out of South Dakota,” Yates said.

The warrant has been served, and Morrell is currently in the Ellis County jail on felony vehicle theft charges. Yates said he will be extradited, but he did not know when that may occur.

Morrell is listed as an absconder from parole on the South Dakota Department of Corrections website.

In August 2016, he was sentenced to four years and three3 months for fourth-offense driving under the influence. In October 2017, he was also convicted of receiving and/or transporting a stolen vehicle.

Two years of his sentence was suspended, and Morrell was released on parole in April of last year. His suspended sentence release date was scheduled for Aug. 17.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

NORTON — The Norton County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of numerous reports of a phone scam in the area.

The calls were reported as a Social Security scam.

“They report that they are being told that there is fraudulent activity on their Social Security number or that their SS number has been suspended,” the announcement said.

The department urges anyone receiving similar calls to refrain from giving any information over the phone.

“Please remember that the U.S. Social Security Administration will not contact you by telephone.”

Phillips County Sheriff Charles Radabaugh also reported getting one of the calls.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

ELLIS — At the regular meeting of the Ellis City Council Monday night, the group heard four more budget requests as the council works to prepare its 2020 budget.

The first to present was the Daniel Pyle, superintendent of the Ellis Recreation Commission.

“Each year, I come before you to request city funds for the upkeep of the ballfields that we play our softball on,” Pyle said, noting the commission provides upkeep on three of the city’s ballfields.

They have also completed several projects over the year to improve the fields.

“Basically what I am asking for is $5,000 for the upcoming budget year to continue those types of improvements and upkeep of the three ballfields,” Pyle said.

Glen Keller, president of the Ellis Railroad Museum, asked for the same amount allocated for the past several years.

He said the museum continues to grow and has received private donations this year to aid in expansion efforts.

“We are doing a lot of expanding,” Keller said.

However, he told the council the museum would need the council’s financial support in order to remain open for the benefit of the city.

“Tourism in Ellis is very important, and it does attract a lot of people to Ellis,” Keller said.

As improvements continue, he added, they are always looking for grants and other sources of funding to support the growth.

Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams presented next.

“You’re my fourth stop. I have been to Ellis County, Victoria and Hays,” he said. “We have had a lot of change at Grow Hays in the last 18 months,” noting the name change, new location and an overhaul of the volunteer board.

“But over that time, our mission has not changed at all,” Williams said.

Business creation, retention and expansion, and recruitment is “what we do,” he said.

“We have over the last 18 months implemented a number of new programs,” Williams said. “Areas that are very important to our community if we are to retain young people and to grow.”

To that end, he shared his request for $4,000, the first since 2017.

“The reality is this organization will not survive long-term without a good level of public funding,” Williams said.

He noted 25 percent to 30 percent of funding comes from private donations, with the rest typically coming from public funds.

“We believe it is important that the public entities invest, and we can’t do it without you,” Williams said.

Council member Jolene Niernberger shared with Williams that, while she felt the programs the organization offers are “excellent,” she was troubled by specific wording in the request documentation.

“You speak of our community,” Niernberger said. “When I think of my community, I think of Ellis.

“Maybe I should be thinking on a broader term, but when I read throughout your letter, our community, our community and then the name of your organization is Grow Hays, I think you are doing it for Hays,” she said. “It’s hard to swallow for me.”

Despite her concerns, she followed up the comment saying she believes the organization is doing “excellent work.”

“I understand where you are coming from,” Williams said. “I really do. When I think of community, I think of western Kansas at this point in time, because we are all in this boat together.”

“Certainly I include Ellis and Victoria and Munjor and everybody else in what I view as our community,” he said.

“In my opinion, what is good for Ellis is good for Hays and what is good for Hays is good for Ellis,” Williams said. “I know it isn’t always that easy, but that is my perspective.”

Niernberger responded saying she appreciates that sentiment and does not disagree.

Ellis Mayor David McDaniel further questioned Williams as to the change this year in requesting public funds.

“When you did your transition and dropped funding from public entities, was there a plan to go back to the public entities, or was it a different type of plan that hasn’t worked?” McDaniel said.

“I wasn’t there when that decision was made,” Williams responded. “In my opinion and based on what I have heard from former board members, they felt that this was an organization that could be funded privately.”

“That’s what I was told,” McDaniel said.

“Bad thought,” Williams answered back. “There is not an (economic development organization) in the state of Kansas that is and it just does not lend itself very well to that. While I believe private investment is important, to fund it all is just not reasonable.”

The president of the Ellis Free Fair, DJ Fisher, also presented a funding request.

“While the community members gladly volunteer for these roles, the lack of extra income often means that fair board members have to complete maintenance and repairs themselves,” Fisher said.

He further noted several aspects of the fair facilities were in need of repair and are used by other community groups.

The amount of the organization’s request was $3,100 and was requested to offset the funding cut from the Ellis County Commission.

“I am here to ask if the city can help us out,” Fisher said, “to get some money back to keep this fair going.”

While Fisher said he was hopeful the council could fund the full request, he added “anything is greatly appreciated.”

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

A Hays resident was arrested over the weekend after reportedly fleeing a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in Rooks County.

At 11:05 p.m. Friday, a trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol attempted to stop a 2002 Dodge Stratus with a Kansas tag on County Road CC in Rooks County, according to Trooper Tod Hileman.

The vehicle fled the trooper going eastbound for an unknown amount of time before the car crashed.

The suspect then fled the crash and was later arrested by the KHP, Hileman said.

The KHP identified the suspect as Scott Finnesy, 39, Hays.

Finnesy was charged with transporting an open container, flee and eluding law enforcement after an accident, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident, along with six moving violations. He was transferred to Rooks County jail.

Finnesy has two prior convictions in Kansas. In 2011, he was convicted for attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and driving while suspended.

In 2015, he was sentenced for attempted aggravated intentional battery causing great bodily harm. Finnesy served over a year in the Ellsworth Correctional Facility related to that conviction.

He was released from the facility in January 2017 and his sentence expired in January of last year.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

NESS CITY — Last week, the Ness County Sheriff’s Department made three drug-related arrests on K96 finding various narcotics, paraphernalia, large amounts of currency and firearms.

Ness County Sheriff Brandon Mitchell attributed the arrests to a new K9 unit — along with some good timing and training.

“It’s actually a little bit of both,” Mitchell said. “We obtained a K9 unit earlier this year and that has assisted in most of these drug busts on the highways.”

Along with the highway arrests, Mitchell said there have been many arrests in the county.

“We have also done a lot of search warrants in the county, but that has just been investigations of our patrol sargeant and helping our other deputies and our undersheriff.”

Mitchell attributes the four small highways that run through the county as a main cause of the trafficking, as people avoid Interstate 70 and other major highways in an effort to avoid detection.

“I believe that people transporting narcotics and other illegal activities are happening on the smaller highways because they believe they can avoid the interstates and or avoid apprehension this way, and we are doing our best to up our patrols and try to catch what is coming through the county,” he said.

But turning the knowledge of illicit activities into arrests is a function of training, according to Mitchell.

“These guys are really good at interdiction stops,” he said. “When they make a traffic stop, whether it is for speeding or any kind of traffic violation, they are looking for indicators that would contradict what their story is telling you.”

Some examples he gave included a suspect saying they are on a long trip, but having no luggage in the car, or getting different stories from the driver and passenger.

He said the trip itself can be an indicator if, for example, the driver said they are traveling from Kansas City to Denver.

“We know that Denver to Kansas City is an I-70 trip, one way, it is the easiest way there,” Mitchell said. “If they are going out of their way to hide, then it starts to raise suspicion.”

Once a stop is made and indicators of deception are noticed, Mitchell said the K9 undersheriff is called in to confirm or deny suspicions.

“That’s where a lot of this is coming from, the guys are just doing a good job and knowing their job well,” he said.

The first highway drug arrest was made on Tuesday, June 25, at approximately 4:45 p.m. at K96 at W Rd.

“During the stop, K9 Bach was deployed and a probable cause search was conducted. Deputies recovered over $11,000 in U.S. currency, cocaine, marijuana edibles and drug paraphernalia,” according to a department announcement.

A male suspect was arrested and transported to the Ness County jail, where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.

The second arrest was made just a day later at approximately 4:09 p.m. when Ness County patrol deputies initiated a traffic stop on K96 at milepost 109.

“During the investigation, K9 Bach was deployed and indicated a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. The search produced cocaine, narcotics scale, and $400 in U.S. currency,” a release from the department said. “One male suspect was arrested and booked into the Ness County jail for charges of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, driving while license suspended/canceled/revoked and possession of drug paraphernalia.”

The third incident occurred on Saturday.

“On (June 29), Ness County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop on K96 eastbound at W Rd,” an announcement from the department said. “During the investigation, K9 Bach was deployed and indicated the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted. Deputies found a hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun with the serial numbers removed, four baggies of methamphetamine and a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine.”

In that case, two suspects were arrested and taken to the Ness County jail on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm with altered identification and several traffic violations.