SEDGWICK COUNTY —Minimum-custody inmate Kyle Ingels was placed on escape status at approximately 6:48 p.m., Tuesday, after he walked away from the Wichita Work Release Facility, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Ingels photo KDOC
Ingels, a 32-year-old white male, left for work at 10:30 a.m. and was reported missing when he did not report back to the facility following work Tuesday evening. Ingels was last seen wearing a red hoodie with black writing on the sleeves, blue jeans, black boots, and a black baseball cap.
Ingels is currently serving a 60-month sentence for several convictions in Neosho County including theft, forgery, drug possession, and endangerment of a child. Engels had a prior drug conviction from Neosho County in 2007.
Ingels is 6 feet tall, 198 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.
Anyone with information on Ingels can call the Kansas Department of Corrections at 620-221-6660, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.
The walk-away is currently being investigated. New information will be released as it becomes available.
The Wichita Work Release Facility, a satellite unit of the Winfield Correctional Facility, is an all-male, minimum-custody state prison with a population of 250.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Court documents say a Kansas City man had a blood-alcohol level that was three times the legal limit when he caused a deadly crash.
Thirty-nine-year-old Paul Dowdell was charged Saturday with driving while intoxicated in the deadly collision. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
The Jackson County prosecutor’s office says Dowell had a blood-alcohol level of .295 in January when he crossed a lane divider on Interstate 470 in a Cadillac Eldorado and struck a tractor-trailer. The truck’s driver, Daniel Shafer, was ejected when the rig crashed into a concrete barrier. He died the next day.
Prosecutors say Dowdell left the hospital against medical advice before an officer arrived. He was arrested Saturday.
Court records show he has two prior DUI convictions in Missouri.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— A man who escaped from custody in Topeka on October 29 is back in jail.
Russell photo Topeka Police
Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, Jordan Russell, 20, turned himself back into the the Law Enforcement Center in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Police have no released all the charges he will face as a result of his escape.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are attempting to locate a suspect wanted for aggravated escape from custody.
Jordan R. Russell, 20, is approximately 5-foot-10, and weighs 210 pounds, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Russell was last seen at the Topeka Law Enforcement Center at 2:10 p.m. He is believed to have taken off his green Department of Corrections jumpsuit and his current clothing is unknown.
According to police, if you know his location, please do not attempt to apprehend him yourself please call 911 immediately to report his whereabouts.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ lone congressional Democrat is urging her Kansas Republican colleagues to speak out against a policy that would allow faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to get taxpayer funding even if they turn away same-sex couples based on religious beliefs.
Rep. Sharice Davids sent a letter Tuesday asking GOP colleagues to use their relationships with President Donald Trump to help reverse the policy, proposed by the administration on Friday. Davids is one of nine LGBTQ members of Congress.
I will not sit silently by while this Administration dismantles protections for LGBTQ adoptive and foster parents. It’s time for this Administration to do right by our children and families and reverse this decision. 5/5
WARRENSBURG, Mo — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the accidental shooting death of a college student.
Just after 3:30p.m. the Department of Public Safety at the University of Central Missouri responded to a report of an accidental discharge of a firearm at an on-campus apartment, according to a media release from the school.
The accident resulted in the death of Stephon Abron, a student from St. Charles, Missouri. Campus officers immediately determined there was no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation has resulted in the arrest of a UCM student Jeremy Manley on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
“The UCM community is saddened by this tragedy. The university will offer assistance through the counseling center to students who may need support. The Employee Assistance Program is available to assist employees,” according to a statement the release.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and Warrensburg Police Department have been working with UCM Public Safety on the investigation.
Authorities have not released details surrounding the shooting.
KIOWA COUNTY —A teen suspect arrested in connection with a high-speed chase and crash that sent a Kansas deputy to the hospital remains in custody in Pratt County.
Mason photo Pratt County
The chase initially started Thursday on the Kansas Turnpike, according to Lt. John Lenherr with the Kansas Highway Patrol. Troopers responded to reports of reckless driver on a motorcycle. When authorities first observed the red 2001 Honda motorcycle, it was traveling at over 140 miles per hour, according to Lenherr. Due to the danger involved, troopers ultimately discontinued the pursuit and notified law enforcement agencies east of Wichita.
The suspect later identified as 18-year-old Isaac Mason of Wisconsin continued west quickly through Pratt County. Authorities in Kiowa County located the motorcycle on U.S. 54 just east of Greensburg, according to Sheriff Chris Tedder.
As officers turned to stop the vehicle, the motorcycle accelerated gaining about a half mile on the deputies and traveled into Greensburg.
During the pursuit into town, the driver of lead patrol unit Undersheriff Scott McCann lost control of a 2019 Dodge Charger. The vehicle hit a curb drove across Olive Street into a field, struck a sign and came to rest upright in a drainage ditch, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol
Authorities eventually stopped Mason at the Ford-Kiowa County line and took him into custody without further incident.
EMS transported McCann to Kiowa County Memorial Hospital and he was later transported by ambulance to Wichita, in stable but critical condition. The sheriff’s office has not provided an update on his condition. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Mason is being held on a $50,000 bond on requested charges that include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer; use of a deadly weapon, Interference with a law enforcement officer; falsely report a crime intending to obstruct and felony failure to stop at an accident, according to online jail records.
SALINA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas offender on new charges after an arrest.
Cody Talbott photo KBI offender registry
Just after 11:30p.m. Monday, a patrol officer noticed a man on a blue BMX bicycle riding in the middle of the street in the 800 block of Windsor Drive in Salina, according to Captain Paul Forrester.
The officer attempted to make contact with the man, but he rode the bicycle into the front yard of a residence and then took off on foot behind the residence.
The officer gave chase and was able to apprehend Cody Talbot in the backyard of another residence further south on Windsor Drive, Forrester said.
Talbot had several outstanding felony warrants, two violations of the registered offender act, and an aggravated failure to appear, according to Forrester.
While searching Talbot and the backpack he was carrying, the officer found slightly less than three ounces of methamphetamine and two handguns.
In addition to the outstanding warrants, Talbot was arrested on requested charges of Possession with the intent to distribute a stimulant, No drug tax stamp, Possession of methamphetamine with prior conviction, Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Interference with a law enforcement officer and Improper bike lamps or reflectors. He has previous convictions for burglary, drugs and violations of the offender registration act, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
JUNCTION CITY — One member of the public spoke to the Geary USD 475 Board of Education Monday evening concerning recent alleged racial comments endured by some JCHS students at the Junction City – Manhattan football game on Oct. 11.
Mary Edwards noted that she was a concerned parent of a youth attending Junction City High School.
” I would like to know what the status is of the racial harassment incident that occurred Oct. 11, 2019 at the football game in Manhattan,” she said.
Edwards added she would like to know why the JCHS administration has not kept the parents informed or even informed the parents of the incident.
Mary Edwards addressed the USD 475 board Monday night / Image courtesy USD 475
Edwards stated the Board is in charge of the policies and creating the curriculum for the district.
“So I first ask that you either create or update a policy that provides instruction for the high school administration and school staff to follow if and when another incident occurs.” Edwards wants to see the schools required to provide diversity and inclusion training for school administration, staff and students. “Also require training for staff administrators on best practices, on how to respond to racial harassment as well as training for the students on what they need to do when they encounter these situations.”
Both the Geary County and Manhattan – Ogden school districts have previously issued statements indicating that they are working together to investigate the events and deal with the racial behavior as they move forward.
There was no response from the Board to Edwards Monday evening, but that is normal practice during the public comment period. Those sessions are intended to allow members of the public to give input to the school board and administration.
HUTCHINSON — The Hutchinson City Council will take action on the new rental inspection program during Tuesday’s agenda session.
The city is proposing a licensing fee structure with incentives rather than the current permit fee. The Housing Commission has denied a recommendation on the proposal. That came during a meeting on Oct. 19 on a 4-2 vote.
“There were still some concerns from the housing commissioners that is this really going to solve any of the problems,” Planning Director Ryan Hvitlok said. “We also had two new slots filled on the commission so that changed the vote a little.” Several other members of the commission were absent, which also skewed the numbers, according to Hvitlok.
Hvitlok says the reason this has drawn so much attention is that most landlords in Hutchinson are not used to this kind of program, which is usually seen as routine business by owners of larger apartment complexes in metro areas.
“If you look at where the majority of rental licenses programs are in Kansas, they are in the K.C. metro area. They tend to be the larger landlords and it’s more of an expectation. They just see it as a part of doing business,” Hvitlok said. “We have a lot more individual landlords. These are generally local people that have put some money into the community to try and invest. So for them, I think it is a bit of a cultural shock.”
Hvitlok says that, while this program may not be the full answer, he feels that the council is wanting to keep the ball moving forward when it comes to better rental housing.
“Obviously we’ve made some good progress on it (condition of rental housing) with the international property maintenance code, but also the rental registration program,” Hvitlok noted. “I think that is the concern with some of the Housing Commission and (what) City Council members have voiced is they really don’t want to lose that momentum and kind of start going back to where we were 10 years ago.”
Tuesday’s City Council meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Hutchinson city offices.
OSAGE COUNTY — A Kansas woman originally jailed on 20 counts of alleged animal cruelty has entered a plea agreement in the case.
Shaffer-photo Osage County
On October 31, Christi L. Shaffer, 53, Lyndon, entered pleas of no contest, was convicted of two counts of animal cruelty and one count of allowing a dangerous animal to be at large, according to the sheriff’s department.
Shaffer was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law on all counts and the sentences were ordered to run consecutive for a controlling sentence of 30 months in the Osage County jail.
She was further ordered to serve 45 days of that sentence. The balance of the sentence was suspended and she will serve a 36 month term of probation.
Shaffer also agreed to relinquish ownership of the dogs and Magistrate Judge Shannon Rush severed her ownership interest in the dogs not to own or possess animals of any kind during the term of her probation.
Shaffer was fined $1,100.00 and was ordered to pay restitution to the Osage County Sheriff in the amount of $1,222.39 for veterinary care that had been provided for the dogs.
In mid-October, the Osage County Sheriff’s office issued a public warning about the emaciated Alaskan Tundra Shepherds that were reported loose west of Lyndon, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.
The dogs had been moved and authorities did not know where.
As part of the plea agreement Shaffer was ordered to provide information concerning the location of the dogs.
Sheriff Dunn investigated the validity of the information provided and has been in contact with the individual in possession of the dogs. Fortunately, this individual appears to have provided excellent care for the dogs. Their condition has greatly improved. Some of the dogs have already been adopted and the remaining dogs will receive appropriate care until permanent adoptive homes are located.
Enter for a chance to win tickets to see Ray LaMontagne at Salina’s Stiefel Theatre. Click HERE for more on the performer. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — Emotions that simmered for nearly a year over the renaming of an historic major thoroughfare in Kansas City, Missouri, for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led to a tense scene at a black church as get-out-the vote efforts wound down ahead of residents going to the polls.
photo courtesy Save the Paseo
About 100 supporters of keeping the King name for the 10-mile boulevard were at a rally to court voters Sunday when opponents walked into the Paseo Baptist Church and stood along its two aisles. Those against the King name stood silently and did not respond to calls for them to sit down. Several speakers and people in the crowd told them they were being disrespectful.
On Tuesday, the debate will end, as voters decide if Kansas City’s reputation as one of the largest cities in the U.S. without a street named for the iconic civil rights leader will cease. The boulevard had been named The Paseo, and a group named Save the Paseo collected 2,857 signatures in April — far more than the 1,700 needed — to have the name change put to a public vote. Many of the opponents who stepped inside the small church along the boulevard Sunday were wearing Save the Paseo T-shirts at the voter rally.
Many supporters of the Martin Luther King name have suggested the opponents are racist, saying Save the Paseo is a mostly white group and that many of its members don’t live on the street, which runs north to south through a largely black area of the city. They say removing the name would send a negative image of Kansas City to the rest of the world, and could hurt business and tourism.
Supporters of the Paseo name bristle at the allegations of racism, saying they have respect for King and want the city to find a way to honor him. They are opposed to the name change because they say the City Council did not follow city charter procedures when deciding on the name change and didn’t notify most residents on the street about the proposal. They also say The Paseo was an historic name for the city’s first boulevard, which was completed in 1899. The north end of the boulevard is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The City Council voted in January to rename the boulevard for King, responding to a yearslong effort from the city’s black leaders and pressure from the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization that King helped start.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a minister and former Kansas City mayor who has pushed the city to rename a street for King for years, was at Sunday’s rally. He said the protesters were welcome, but he asked them to consider the damage that would be done if Kansas City removed King’s name.
Photo Courtesy Save the Paseo
“I am standing here simply begging you to sit down. This is not appropriate in a church of Jesus Christ,” Cleaver told the group.
Tim Smith, who organized the protest, said it was designed to force the black Christian leaders who had mischaracterized the Save the Paseo group as racist to “say it to our faces.”
“If tonight, someone wants to characterize what we did as hostile, violent, or uncivil, it’s a mischaracterization of what happened,” Smith said. “We didn’t say anything, we didn’t do anything, we just stood.”
The Rev. Vernon Howard, president of the Kansas City chapter of the SCLU, told The Associated Press that the King street sign is a powerful symbol for everyone but particularly for black children.
“I think that only if you are a black child growing up in the inner city lacking the kind of resources, lacking the kinds of images and models for mentoring, modeling, vocation and career, can you actually understand what that name on that sign can mean to a child in this community,” Howard said.
If the sign were taken down, “the reverse will be true,” he said.
“What people will wonder in their minds and hearts is why and how something so good, uplifting and edifying, how can something like that be taken away?” he said.
But Diane Euston, a leader of the Save the Paseo group, said The Paseo “doesn’t just mean something to one community in Kansas City.”
“It means something to everyone in Kansas City,” she said. “It holds kind of a special place in so many people’s hearts and memories. It’s not just historical on paper, it’s historical in people’s memory. It’s very important to Kansas City.”
