Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force attempted to locate Anthony C. Pagel and Rachel L. Kiser, who were both wanted by the Kansas Department of Corrections for parole warrants.
The Task Force attempted to make contact with both of the fugitives at an apartment in the 1300 block of SW Harrison in Topeka, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.
After a brief standoff, both fugitives surrendered and were placed into custody without incident. Authorities seized contraband from the apartment including over 100 rounds of ammunition (45 caliber, 9mm caliber, .380 rounds, and 12 gauge shotgun rounds Ithaca shotgun M-66 12 gauge (sawed off), Kel-tec .380 P3AT pistol with the serial # removed, approximately 95 grams of suspected meth and approximately 6 grams of suspected heroin
Pagel and Kiser, both of Topeka, were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on Parole Warrants, weapons charges, and drug charges.
The US Marshals Fugitive Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force comprised of the United States Marshals Service, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Department of Corrections, Topeka Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling declaring that the state constitution protects access to abortion opened the door to a new legal attack on the death penalty.
Frazier Glenn Miller Photo Jackson Co.
Attorneys for five of the 10 men on death row in Kansas argue that the abortion decision means the state’s courts can enforce the broad guarantees of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Bill of Rights in the Kansas Constitution. The lawyers contend the convicted killers cannot be executed because capital punishment violates their “inalienable” right to life.
They include Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., a white supremacist convicted of killing three people at two Jewish sites in the Kansas City area in 2014, and Jonathan and Reginald Carr, two brothers who, authorities said, forced five people to remove money from ATMs and have sex with one another before killing four of them in Wichita in 2000.
Defense attorneys launched the new legal attack on capital punishment in filings with the state Supreme Court in May, less than two weeks after the abortion decision. The justices took the claims seriously enough to order defense attorneys and prosecutors to file additional written arguments, with the last ones due in mid-November.
“It hasn’t been argued under the Kansas Constitution, at least, not in the way we are presenting it in these cases,” Meryl Carver-Allmond, an attorney for two of the men. “This is a new argument.”
The Kansas Supreme Court’s abortion ruling in April was the latest in a long list of decisions that have angered conservative Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature. It said the state’s Bill of Rights grants a right to “personal autonomy” that includes access to abortion.
Four of the seven justices were appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and two by moderate Republican Gov. Bill Graves. The seventh, the only dissenter in the abortion case, was appointed by conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback.
Past decisions in capital murder cases also have sparked anger. Kansas’ last legal executions were in 1965, by hanging, and the state enacted its current death penalty law in 1994.
The court has yet to rule in Miller’s case. In 2014, the court overturned death sentences for the Carr brothers in two separate rulings. Those decisions helped fuel unsuccessful election campaigns in 2014 and 2016 to oust all but Brownback’s appointee. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the rulings, sending the Carrs’ cases back to the Kansas Supreme Court. The cases are pending.
Republican Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt told The Associated Press this week that the abortion decision “opened the door for a wide range of new litigation.”
“There is a certain irony that a case regarding abortion is now being urged by some as a reason to upend the death penalty in Kansas,” Schmidt said. “I think that’s just the start, because this holding was so sweeping. I think it’s not just going to be abortion.”
In 2001, in its first ruling under the state’s current death penalty law, the Kansas Supreme Court rejected an argument that the state constitution grants a right to life barring executions for crimes. Defense attorneys now argue that the abortion decision provides grounds for reconsidering that conclusion.
David Lowden, an assistant district attorney, argued in filings this month in the Carr brothers’ cases that it remains a “vast legal reach” to argue that capital punishment violates the state constitution.
Jeffrey Jackson, a Washburn University of Topeka law professor, said the right to life has never been interpreted to include freedom from being executed for a capital crime.
“When you’re trying your client from being executed, you find all the stuff. Your requirement is that you make all the arguments that you can credibly make,” Jackson said. “I just think that this one’s — it would not withstand scrutiny.”
Richard Levy, a University of Kansas law professor, said the abortion ruling suggests the Kansas court might recognize rights for the state’s residents that aren’t recognized nationally. Levy said he has doubts that the Kansas Supreme Court would declare capital punishment violates the state constitution but added, “I don’t think the argument is frivolous.”
“I think it’s more likely that the end result would be the death penalty is still constitutional but more safeguards have to be applied in Kansas than at the national level,” Levy said.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County Attorney has charged Wichita Police officer Matthew Powell with one count of Obstructing Apprehension or Prosecution, a class C misdemeanor and two counts of Official Misconduct, both class A misdemeanors, according to a media release from Wichita Police Department.
The charges stem from an incident in early May when police supervision learned of Powell allegedly assisting an adult female to avoid being located by police for her outstanding warrant.
Powell has been employed as a Wichita Police officer for seven years. He was placed on unpaid administrative leave Wednesday.
WPD officials requested the case be investigated by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office pursuant to a collaborative 2017 agreement to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest.
OSAGE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a dog attack that sent a child to the hospital.
Just after 4p.m.m June 23, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and Osage County EMS responded to 1954 W. 253rd in rural Lyndon after report of a dog bite, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.
EMS transported a juvenile victim in critical condition to Stormont Vail Hospital. The dog and the juvenile both reside at the residence. The sheriff’s office released no new information on the child’s condition Wednesday.
TOPEKA, KAN. – A former president of a credit union in Kansas was sentenced today to three years on supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. In addition, the defendant agreed to pay approximately $39,895 in restitution.
Connie Marie Kent, 52, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a credit union. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she was an officer and employee of 1st Kansas Credit Union, formerly the Post Office Credit Union on Topeka. Membership in the credit union was limited to government employees.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim in Tuesday’s ATV as Mark Jackson, 48, Milford.
Authorities said Jackson was on his ATV spraying a field off Ava Road when it overturned and rolled down an embankment. Jackson was found pinned under the ATV.
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GEARY COUNTY —One person died in an accident Tuesday in Geary County.
Just after 4:30p.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to report of a man pinned under an ATV, according to a media release.
The man identified as a Milford resident was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s department has not released his name or additional details of the accident.
SALINA —On the heels of a $1 million donation from the Salina Regional Health Center, Kansas Wesleyan announced Wednesday that the Jack and Donna Vanier family is providing its own $1 million gift to help create a new, state-of-the-art Nursing Education Center, according to a media release from the school.
An artists rendering of the KWU nursing center courtesy KWU
The building, located at 135 E. Claflin Avenue in Salina will be the first new instruction-only facility on campus in 50 years. In total, the renovation plans have an estimated cost of $4.5 million.
Once that capital is raised, construction is anticipated to begin late this fall, with a targeted completion date of December 2020.
“We are so pleased and honored to be given the opportunity to help with this project. The work that Dr. Thompson, his board and faculty, and everyone at Kansas Wesleyan have done in order to provide their students with a real hands-on and needs-based education is tremendous! Our decision to support the program for the school was an easy one,” John Vanier said.
The 13,400-square-foot, two-story building will house a performance lab, simulation suite, testing area, large classrooms, a multi-media conference room, student study area, a student lounge, and faculty offices.
The simulation and clinical laboratories give students hands-on practice in bedside care, simulated patient scenarios and collaborative learning opportunities with other health care disciplines, all leading to a comprehensive nursing education, preparing graduates to go into immediate practice after passing national board certification testing and licensing.
The renovation is designed to handle educational facilities for 80 nursing students – 40 each in the junior and senior classes. Kansas Wesleyan nursing students spend freshman and sophomore years with basic studies and enter concentrated nursing education their final two years.
KWU President and CEO Dr. Matt Thompson said this significant gift from the Vaniers not only jump-starts the fundraising campaign for the total renovation, but demonstrates the family’s magnanimous generosity and commitment to the community.
“It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are for this major support; however, it is easy to find the words that illustrate how much the Vaniers help build their own community by ensuring quality and depth of nursing care for all residents,” Dr. Thompson said. “We are appreciative of the Vanier family’s commitment to KWU and the region. Our goal is to educate nursing students to fill a critical need in our local health care facilities. It is our commitment to meet that challenge, and the Vaniers are role models in helping us provide the tools to do exactly that.”
The nursing program at KWU was established in January 1988 after the Asbury Hospital program was moved to the university. The Department of Nursing Education initiated an associate degree in nursing in 1989, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program in 1990.
Starting in 2014, the need for major program revisions was identified. In the summer of 2015, new full-time nursing faculty with advanced nursing degrees were hired. In 2017, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree was converted to a Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing degree so that new curriculum ideas could be implemented and evaluated separately from the former BSN degree. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
KWU also offers an RN to BS nursing degree online program for students who are licensed RNs wanting to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The organization sponsoring a mock state legislature for boys is apologizing after this year’s teenage governor proposed eliminating women’s right to vote.
The American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy said in a statement that the student’s pretending to issue an executive order repealing the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote does not reflect the organization’s values.
The Boys State Legislature voted down the proposal in both its Senate and House of Representatives.
The teenager from Leavenworth made the proposal in the final moments of his term during the annual Boys States gathering at Kansas State University on June 2-7.
Spokesman Brad Biles says the student ignored staff members who told him not to introduce the executive order.
During the six-hour standoff, many photos and videos were shot and posted showing locations of officers and special response unit personnel. Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper took time to address the balance of free speech with the safety of his officers. “At my agency we have absolutely nothing to hide. I am open, I am transparent, I try to let the community know everything that we are doing,” Hooper said. “A lot of the success or failure of an emergency response team is based on appropriate tactics.”
Hooper says such video or photos on social media could be used against law enforcement and put them and the subject in more danger. “In a tactical situation, with people videotaping us, it would not be uncommon for the suspect in this incident last Thursday, for example, to be watching us or monitoring social media,” Hooper said. He gave an example of a similar situation where a person was providing live video of the standoff. Dispatch was letting law enforcement know that their movements were being put on social media.
Hooper says access to social media by those who may have a hostage, or are in a standoff, could be used against law enforcement. Hooper added that negotiations can hinge on keeping the subject calm in a hostage situation. “There’s often times when we’re negotiating with them we have officers in place, but we don’t want the suspect to see that because we don’t want to put any undue pressure on him or we don’t want to force him into anything rash,” Hooper stated.
Hooper says the use of social media has reached the point where the police department is constantly monitoring it so officers can determine if safety is being compromised. “We now have to monitor that,” Hooper said. “We are at our command post and we are seeing what things are going out on social media, we’re seeing if somebody’s Facebook-living it.” Hooper says he has to use resources to make sure they can prevent their officers from being placed in harm’s way adding there have been times during an emergency situation where he has discussed social media with Sheriff Randy Henderson to determine if their officers are being put in danger.
Not only can a person put an officer in danger by giving up tactical information on social media, but it can also be a crime if the information is given to a subject intentionally.
RENO COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 1a.m. Wednesday in Reno County.
The sheriff’s department reported a southbound Union Pacific train struck a Mitsubishi Eclipse that was struck on the tracks at 82nd Street and Old 61 Highway.
The train conductor Calen Knipp told authorities they did not see the black vehicle stopped on the tracks.
The vehicle registered to Tawnya Sallee of Hutchinson was unoccupied, according to the sheriff’s department.
An investigation determined the driver did not navigate the turn correctly and the front two wheels of the vehicle left the roadway. The driver was unable to get the vehicle back onto the roadway, turned on the flashers and left it on the railroad tracks.
Knipp and the train’s engineer Dean Forsberg were not injured.
SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a series of burglaries.
Spencer Schroeder photo Sedgwick Co.
Just after 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, police responded to an alarm call at the A-Ok Pawn Shop in the 1500 block of south Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a broken glass window on the business, damaged property inside and property was missing from the business.
Investigators determined 24-year-old Spencer Schroeder of Wichita was involved in the burglary. Schroeder was located in the 1500 block of south Broadway and arrested without incident. Investigators believe he may be involved in several other burglaries, according to Davidson.
Schroeder remains jailed with a bond of $25,000 on requested charges of burglary, destruction to property and theft.
MANHATTAN — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Wednesday morning fire in Manhattan.
photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department
Just before 4:30 a.m., fire crews were called to a blaze in the at the Colonial Gardens Mobile Home Park in the 3000 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard, according to a media release.
The fire in the park’s clubhouse was extinguished within 30 minutes despite limited access to fire hydrants, according to the release. Fire crews used a shuttle to bring water to fight the blaze.
Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday, police s with the Topeka responded to the 1300 block of SW Polk in Topeka after a reported stabbing, according to Lt. Jennifer Cross.
EMS transported one man to a local hospital with injuries that are believed to be non-life threatening.. The suspect is described as a black female, approximately 5-foo-8, weighing 315 pounds who left the scene on foot and was reportedly wearing a black t-shirt and
jeans.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police
