RILEY COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Thursday in Riley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Nissan Rogue driven by Kurtis Dean Anderson, Green, Kansas, was  westbound on U.S. 77 near Madison and Crooked Creek.

The vehicle swerved into the lane of a 2020 Freightliner semi in an attempt to avoid hitting another vehicle. After stuck by the semi, the Nissan rolled coming to rest upside down.

Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home

The semi driver Thomas Dean Warborg, 53, Worthington, MN., was not injured.  Anderson was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A jury has awarded a Kansas man and his 3-year-old son $6.55 million in a wrongful death verdict after the man’s wife died hours after giving birth at a Wichita hospital.

The award is the largest wrongful death verdict ever in Kansas. It splits the judgment between Edgar Perez and his son, Zander.

Lindsay Perez was a middle school drama teacher who died after giving birth on Oct. 8, 2015, at Wesley Medical Center. The suit named the hospital, its parent company and nine physicians. A hospital spokesman didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Doctors diagnosed Lindsay Perez with preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication. The lawsuit claimed the hospital failed to provide adequate care and ignored distress signs during and after the birth.

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas man who was the owner of a Kansas City day care center was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a conspiracy to fraudulently receive more than $556,000 in federal benefits, according to the United State’s Attorney.

Sharif Karie, 41, of Olathe, Kan., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to four years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.

On Jan. 11, 2019, Karie was convicted at trial of participating in a conspiracy to steal government property, theft of government property, three counts of aggravated identity theft, three counts of wire fraud, 15 counts of money laundering, and six counts of mail fraud.

Karie, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia, was the owner and CEO of a day care center established under two businesses and two names for the same location, with the same key employees: KARIE Day Care Center, LLC, and Tima Child Care Center, LLC, at 1019 Admiral Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. Tima Child Care Center was established under false pretense with a straw owner, according to court documents, apparently to circumvent the state’s oversight efforts.

Co-defendant Sheri Beamon, 48, of Kansas City, Missouri, was the director of KARIE/Tima Childcare Center. Beamon pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, 2018, to her role in the conspiracy and will be sentenced on Aug. 15, 2019.

The day care centers submitted false childcare claims to the state of Missouri that fraudulently inflated the number of hours and children who actually attended the childcare centers. The conspiracy, which lasted from October 2013 to June 2016, resulted in a loss of $536,833 to the Missouri Department of Health and Social Services. The Child Care and Development Fund provides daycare subsidies for low-income families where the parents are employed or engaged in job training. Providers contract with the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and submit claims electronically.

Additionally, Karie committed fraud by misleading the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when he understated his income and assets. Karie received Section 8 assistance, which is funded by HUD. The fraud scheme resulted in a loss of more than $40,000 to the Housing Authority.

This case was the result of a nationwide sweep that targeted child care center fraud schemes. The national law enforcement operation in Missouri and six other states was the result of separate, but related, federal investigations into childcare center fraud that resulted in a loss of more than $1 million to the government.

Pole cameras, which were installed near the day care center, captured footage of the entrances and exits of the building during two time periods in 2015 and in 2016. Timesheets and billing records were reviewed and compared to the children seen on the pole cameras being dropped off and picked up from the daycare center during that time. There were significant discrepancies between the timesheets, claims submitted, and the pole camera footage. According to court documents, even the fire evacuation records were falsified indicating a fire drill was performed on a date when pole cameras were capturing footage of the entrance/exit of the day care and the planned evacuation route as provided to the state. The drill never took place.

At no time during its operation, according to court documents, did Karie Day Care Center meet the minimum health and safety standards for operation as established by Missouri statute and agreed to by contract. Tima Child Care Center was conceived as the state was in process of shutting down Karie Day Care Center for failure to comply with standards for health, safety, and record keeping. Had the state known that Karie was actually operating the business, according to court documents, a license would not have been approved.

The state conducted a compliance review of the daycare center’s billing for May 2014 and July 2014. The review found several attendance records missing. The review also identified 14 out of the 15 families with children at the center who had a parent employed there. With only two classrooms, it is improbable that parents were not caring for their own children. One of these parents reported that her job was contingent on having all of her children placed in care at KARIE Day Care Center so her child care would be paid by the state. According to court records, nearly all children enrolled for services were those of employees, in violation of state regulations. This same 2014 audit found several discrepancies on the time sheets submitted to the state.

Subsequent unannounced inspections at KARIE Day Care Center found the facility in violation of state regulations pertaining to child care licensing rules, including health and safety, staff ratios, and the maintaining of attendance records. Each of the inspections resulted in violation findings.

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a knife attack and after asking for the public’s help have reported the arrest of a suspect.

Just after 6:30 p.m. July 26, police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of North A Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.

At the scene, officers found a 22-year-old Arkansas City man who had sustained a cut to the side of his face. Investigators worked quickly to identify  28-year-old James Henry Fitch V as a suspect in the case, but he had fled the scene prior to their arrival. He allegedly cut the victim in the face with a knife as a result of a disagreement. The Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department provided emergency medical assistance to the victim.

On Thursday, authorities reported they had arrested Fitch.

He is being held in the Cowley County Jail on one felony count each of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery on a $30,000 bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City, plus an additional $2,000 misdemeanor bond revocation through Cowley County District Court in Winfield.

 

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COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a knife attack and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

James Henry Fitch V, 28, of Arkansas City, is wanted on suspicion of aggravated battery in connection with a knifing incident July 26 in the 400 block of North A Street, according to the Arkansas City Police Capt. Eric Burr.

Just after 6:30 p.m. July 26, police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of North A Street, according to a media release. At the scene, officers found a 22-year-old Arkansas City man who had sustained a cut to the side of his face. Investigators worked quickly to identify Fitch as a suspect in the case, but he had fled the scene prior to their arrival. He allegedly cut the victim in the face with a knife as a result of a disagreement. The Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department provided emergency medical assistance to the victim.

Anyone with information on Fitch should contact the Arkansas City Police Department at (620) 441-4444.

KINGSTON, Mo. (AP) — A man charged with tampering with a vehicle used by two Wisconsin brothers who are missing and presumed dead in Missouri was involved in a business arrangement with another farmer that included calves owned by the brothers, according to people involved in the deal.

Brothers Nick and Justin Diemel, from Shawano County, Wisconsin, disappeared July 21 while visiting northwest Missouri for a trip related to their cattle business. Authorities say the brothers are presumed dead. Human remains found on a farm owned by Garland Nelson have not been identified.

The brothers disappeared after visiting Nelson, 25, at a farm near Braymer, about 70 miles northeast of Kansas City. Nelson is charged with tampering with a vehicle after authorities said he drove a truck the brothers rented from his farm to a commuter parking lot, where it was found abandoned.

David Foster, a Kansas dairy farmer, told The Kansas City Star Wednesday that he bought 131 calves from Nelson in November. Nelson was to raise the calves and the farmers would split the cost after the animals were sold. One hundred of the calves belonged to the Diemel brothers, Foster said.

Nelson’s mother, Tomme Feil, said her son and the family cared for the calves. The animals became ill shortly after arriving at the farm, which Feil blamed on bad winter and weakened immune systems. She said many died despite receiving extensive medication, feed and advice from veterinarians.

“It wasn’t like we enjoyed watching calves die,” she said. “We didn’t. We were doing everything possible to keep them alive.”

Feil said her son returned the remaining calves when Foster’s bank claimed them as collateral.

Foster said only 35 calves were returned to him.

“They were starved, they were malnourished,” he said. “It was almost a complete loss.”

Foster said Nelson owes him more than $151,000. Feil agreed that Nelson owed Foster money but disputed the amount. She said several people owe her son money and he planned to pay Foster back when others paid their debts to him.

Feil said law enforcement authorities have seized paperwork relevant to her son’s business dealings. Foster declined to provide documentation of the deal with Nelson, saying law enforcement had advised him not to so as not to interfere with the investigation.

Nelson was sentenced in 2016 to two years in prison for selling more than 600 head of cattle that did not belong to him. Nelson pleaded guilty to cattle fraud that caused more than $262,000 in losses. He was released from prison in March 2018.

Nelson also pleaded guilty in August 2015 to two misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks.

HUTCHINSON— A 21-year-old man arrested in February of 2018, for alleged distribution of marijuana got a break from the state Thursday when they dropped the charge to simple possession of marijuana.

Xavier Terry was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the initial charge for allegedly selling between 25 and 450 grams of marijuana. The arrest was made by the Haven Police Department, but Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton decided to make the offer. Terry accepted and and entered a plea agreement.

Stanton says Terry who is now playing football in West Virginia will have to pay court cost as part of his six month probation. He also agreed to pay the Reno County Sheriff’s Office back the cost for bringing him back to Kansas to face the charge. That comes to roughly $2,000.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a 37-year-old Kansas woman charged in the decapitation death of her ex-boyfriend’s mother is competent to stand trial.

Rachael Hilyard, of Wichita, is charged with first-degree murder in the April 2017 death of 63-year-old Micki Davis.

Davis was attacked after she went with her 9-year-old grandson to a home to retrieve property belonging to her son. The boy ran away and called 911.

Police found Davis’ body in a garage and her head in the kitchen sink.

She underwent a mental health evaluation at Larned State Hospital, which said she was competent to stand trial. A judge agreed Thursday.

Trial is set to begin Oct. 15. Hilyard is jailed in lieu of a $550,000 bond.

JOHNSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody. Just after 2:15a.m. Thursday, police responded to report of a disturbance at a home where they found a 14-year-old dead of an apparent gunshot wound, according to Olathe police spokesman Joel Yeldell. 

Late Thursday morning, police reported on social media they had taken a 14-year-old suspect  into custody in connection with the homicide.  The suspect was known to the victim, according to Yeldell.

Investigators have contacted everyone involved in the shooting and released no additional details.

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OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Olathe police are investigating a 14-year-old boy’s death as a homicide.

Spokesman Joel Yeldell says officers were called about 2:15 a.m. Thursday to investigate a disturbance.

Emergency responders found the teen dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

No further information was released and the investigation continues.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The FBI says two juveniles and 35 adults in the greater Kansas City area were rescued from alleged commercial sex trafficking operations as part of a nationwide roundup.

The FBI coordinated the national effort throughout July. The agency says the operation resulted in the identification or recovery of 103 child victims, the arrest of 67 suspected sex traffickers and 60 new federal investigations.

The Kansas City Division of the FBI said it worked on “Operation Independence Day” with other law enforcement agencies in Missouri and Kansas, including departments in Kansas City, Branson and Springfield in Missouri and Overland Park, Wichita and Sedgwick County in Kansas.

GEARY COUNTY — A Kansas police officer made an interesting discovery during the search of a home Wednesday,

According to a social media report, Junction City Police Lt. Cory Odell wrangled a gator Wednesday while assisting the Drug Operations Group serve a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of West 8th Street in Junction City.

Odell named the gator Flash-bang who is now safely in the custody of the Milford Nature Center.

Odell was not allowed to keep the alligator because it is against city ordinance to have one in the city limits.

 

JEWELL COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in Jewell County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Ronald A. Payne, 87, Formoso, was northbound on 260 Road and failed to yield at U.S. 36. An eastbound 2007 Kenworth semi driven by Mario Romero, 38, Plano, TX., struck the pickup and pushed it into the north ditch.

EMS transported Payne and a passenger Iva L. Payne, 84, Formoso, to the Lincoln County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. Romero was not injured.

HUTCHINSON —A fire caused significant damage to Kansas home early Thursday,

Just before 1:30a.m. the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to 1422 Woodlawn for a structure fire, according to Division Chief Doug Hanen

First arriving fire unit found heavy fire showing from the rear of the structure. The fire was reported by the occupants. The fire began under a covered porch in the rear and quickly spread to the attic of the home prior to the fire fighter’s arrival. Fire damage to the home is significant, however fire fighters were able to contain the fire to the original structure as a home to the north located 20 feet away suffered moderate siding damage.

Fire fighters did locate one cat in the home, despite resuscitation efforts, the cat did not survive. The 2 adult occupants and a dog did escape without injury. Red Cross is assisting the family and a board up company was called to assisted in securing the property,

Hutchinson fire investigator has ruled the fire as careless smoking. Damage estimates have not been released.

Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Reno County EMS, Hutchison Police Department, Kansas Gas Service, and Westar.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy who was arrested twice in the same day last year has lost his license to be an officer.

The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training revoked the law enforcement certification of Raymond Paredes in July after he pleaded guilty in April to misdemeanor battery.

Paredes was arrested Oct. 31 after a domestic battery call at his home in Bel Aire. The sheriff’s department says Paredes was arrested later in the day after bonding out of jail and returning to the home, which violated a protection order.

The revocation order says Paredes put his hand on his wife’s neck and pushed her against a wall.His employment with the Sedgwick County sheriff’s office ended March 21.