SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gas leak that left one dead and have identified the victim.

Just after 8p.m, Friday the Topeka Fire Department was dispatched to possible gas leak at a residence in the 900 block of SW Warren in Topeka, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.

Topeka Police were requested to assist with forcing entry into the home. Once inside, first responders found a woman later identified as 36-year-old Brandi Prchal.  She was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

A second person was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Due to suspicious circumstances witnessed by the responding officers, the residence was secured and Crime Scene Officers and Detectives were investigating the scene, according to Hilton.

Authorities have not released the cause of Prchal’s death or additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 16 more suspects on sex related charges after weekend arrests.

On Friday evening, police from the Wichita Police Vice Section, the Patrol South and Patrol West Community Response Teams and the Broadway Corridor Team worked together during a sex trafficking sting along the Broadway Corridor, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Police arrested 16 men including Melvin Teufel, Xong Vo, Terry Powers, Koby Konecne, Jamie De La Torre, Dagoberto Aguilar-Ramos, Michael Briggs, Shawn Craven, Christian Dunn, Vondell Kelly, Koby Konecne, Gerano Marin-Hernandez, Juan Martinez, Nabil Nikoula, Mark Rodriguez, Mario Sanchez and Raylon Snovelle on sex related charges. They also arrested  one other man for an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson.

This the 18th sex trafficking sting in Wichita this year resulting in 154 arrests including 27 women, according to Davidson.

Police reminded that those who come to the Broadway Corridor for this activity will be arrested.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters are deciding whether to end the state’s unusual policy of using its own numbers in addition to federal census data to redraw boundaries of state legislative districts.

The ballot in Tuesday’s election includes a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to eliminate a requirement for the state to adjust federal census figures when the Legislature redistricts itself.

The adjustment counts college students and military personnel not where they’re living but in a “permanent” home elsewhere. That’s outside Kansas for thousands of people and the practice has cost university towns some political clout.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab argues that the policy is outdated and says the next adjustment for 2022 would cost $835,000.

Kansas is among only a few states that adjust federal census figures for redistricting.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man serving a life sentence for killing a toddler has been sentenced to 13 ½ more years in prison for stabbing a guard at least three times in the abdomen with a shank.

34-year-old Mark Anthony Baker was sentenced to the extra time Friday for the Dec. 6, 2018, attack at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Prosecutors say it happened after the officer denied Baker’s request to talk to a counselor. Records indicate that the officer spent one night in the hospital.

Baker previously was sentenced to life for the March 2011 killing his then-girlfriend’s 19-month-old son, Zane Pennington. A forensic pathologist testified that Zane suffered from severe head trauma and abdominal injuries.

In the plea, an aggravated criminal sodomy charge was dismissed.

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection to a stolen vehicle in Jackson County.

Just after 3p.m. Saturday, Holton Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrived at O’Reilly Auto Parts at 204 U.S. Highway 75 in Holton in  reference to a report of a possible stolen vehicle, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Authorities determined that the 2004 Pontiac Vibe had been reported stolen out of Rossville, Kansas.

Deputies arrested two suspects believed to be associated with the vehicle, Theresa Michelle Fitzgibbons Miller, 34, of Auburn was booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and Brad A. Emmerson, 52, of Topeka was booked into the Jackson County Jail for felony possession of stolen property according to Morse.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Court documents say a Lawrence man told police that child pornography found on his electric devices was a “form of art.”

46-year-old Charles Tingler is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The recently released affidavit says a woman called police in 2016 to report finding child porn on Tingler’s devices. Tingler told police that the images on the devices belonged to the previous owners, although they had been downloaded recently.

Tingler later told police that he “equated the access of the imagery to an appreciation for the imagery as a form of art or curiosity.” The affidavit says he denied accessing the images for sexual arousal.

It is not clear why Tingler wasn’t charged until September.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Relatives of a Kansas man who was fatally shot by a police officer have settled a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit for $1 million.

The settlement Monday for the family of Antonio Garcia Jr.

Garcia was killed by a Leavenworth officer on July 11, 2017, while sitting in a car in the driveway of his home. The lawsuit said Officer Matthew Harrington unjustifiably shot and killed Garcia. The suit cited what it called the city’s “shoot-first-ask-questions-later” policy.

Harrington was fired. A grand jury indicted him on an involuntary manslaughter charge . That case has not yet gone to trial.

Garcia’s family reached the settlement with the city and the officer in August, and a federal judge approved it Monday.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide and are asking the public for help with information.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday police responded to a home in the 1300 Block of South Greenwood in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred.

A 52-year-old woman told police she went to the home to check on 72-year-old Raymond Koob, Jr., and found him unresponsive.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and had numerous injuries to his body, according to Allred. Police believe the injuries were the result of someone assaulting him, according to Allred.

This is the 23rd criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement and USD 259 authorities are investigating an alleged school threat at a Kansas Middle School.

Just after 7p.m. Sunday, CrimeStoppers and 911 received reports of individuals posting on social media about the possibility of gun violence at Truesdell Middle School 2464 South Glenn in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred.

There were additional officers at the school Monday as police work to speak with several individuals involved and determine the credibility of the threat, according to Allred.

“It may have started as an argument between two juvenile female students and a boyfriend but we are not sure,” said Allred.

Police have not reported an arrest.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Sunday shooting in Salina and have made an arrest.

Just before 3 p.m.,  police were called to the 400 block of Montrose Street in Salina for the report of a person shot, according to  Police Captain Paul Forrester.

At the scene, police made contact with Deric Bell, 28, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Bell and a passenger in a Chevrolet Tahoe, Eric Enslow, 34, Salina, reported the incident occurred in the vehicle, which Bell was driving. Enslow was in the front passenger seat 37-year-old Jermain Thomas was in the back seat.

Thomas allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot Bell, who exited the vehicle while it was still moving and ran east toward Montrose Street, according to Forrester.

The Tahoe came to a stop when it hit the curb at the intersection of South Clark Street and Armory Road in Salina.

Thomas then allegedly pointed the gun at Enslow and demanded money.  Enslow gave Thomas an undisclosed amount of cash, and Thomas exited the vehicle, running westbound.

EMS transported Bell to Salina Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Bell was not acquainted with Thomas, however, Enslow was according to Forrester.

Late Sunday,  police arrested Thomas at a residence in the 100 block of West Beloit Avenue. A woman had called to report a bat in the residence, Forrester said. A police investigation had identified the residence as a possible location for Thomas.

While talking with the woman outside about the bat, officers were able to confirm that Thomas was, indeed, in the residence. Although the SWAT team was called in, a detective was able to talk Thomas out of the house without incident.

Forrester said Thomas was arrested on requested charges of aggravated battery, One count of aggravated domestic battery, domestic battery, intimidation of a witness, damage to propert, theft,  aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon.

Forrester said some of the requested charges were because of two alleged incidents in October. On Friday, a 22-year-old female reported that at about 9 p.m. Oct. 25, Thomas had kicked in her back door, threw her on the living room floor and strangled her, causing injury to her neck, Forrester said. Thomas left the residence about 4 a.m. the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a box containing a fetus was found in Wichita.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police responded to a call involving a small box found on a sandbar in the area of Skinner and Greenway in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred.

A 57-year-old woman told police she found the box and that there was bloody material and a fetus inside so she called 911. Authorities took the box to the coroner’s office.

Police believe the fetus was two weeks or younger, according to Allred. They don’t know if anything criminal occurred but are waiting for more information from the coroner.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge in Kansas has delayed the trial of an Army infantry soldier who prosecutors say is a Satanist hoping to overthrow the U.S. government and distributed information about building bombs.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree in Topeka on Monday granted a request from attorneys for Jarrett William Smith to postpone a trial from early December until at least mid-January. Smith pleaded not guilty in September to charges of distributing explosives information and making a threatening interstate communication.

His attorneys said they needed more time to review evidence.

Smith was a private stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He’s accused of providing information about explosives to an FBI undercover agent and threatening to burn down the house of a far-left-leaning “antifa” member.

Authorities say he also wanted to car bomb a major news organization.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An Army infantry soldier described by a prosecutor as a Satanist hoping to overthrow the U.S. government faces a federal court hearing in a case in which he’s charged with distributing information about building bombs.

The hearing in U.S. District Court in Topeka on Monday comes about five weeks after Jarrett William Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of distributing explosives information and making a threatening interstate communication. His attorneys have argued he was only an internet troll spouting off online.

Smith was a private stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He’s accused of providing information about explosives to an FBI undercover agent and with threatening to burn down the house of a far-left-leaning “antifa” member.

Authorities say he also wanted to target a major news organization with a car bomb.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge in Portland, Oregon put on hold a Trump administration rule requiring immigrants prove they will have health insurance or can pay for medical care before they can get visas.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the rule from going into effect Sunday. It’s not clear when he will rule on the merits of the case.

Seven U.S. citizens and a nonprofit organization filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday contending the rule would block nearly two-thirds of all prospective legal immigrants.

The lawsuit also said the rule would greatly reduce or eliminate the number of immigrants who enter the United States with family sponsored visas.

“We’re very grateful that the court recognized the need to block the health care ban immediately,” says Justice Action Center senior litigator Esther Sung, who argued at Saturday’s hearing on behalf of the plaintiffs. “The ban would separate families and cut two-thirds of green-card-based immigration starting tonight, were the ban not stopped.”

The proclamation signed by President Donald Trump in early October applies to people seeking immigrant visas from abroad — not those in the U.S. already. It does not affect lawful permanent residents. It does not apply to asylum-seekers, refugees or children.

The proclamation says immigrants will be barred from entering the country unless they are to be covered by health insurance within 30 days of entering or have enough financial resources to pay for any medical costs.

The rule is the Trump administration’s latest effort to limit immigrant access to public programs while trying to move the country away from a family based immigration system to a merit-based system.

The White House said in a statement at the time the proclamation was issued that too many non-citizens were taking advantage of the country’s “generous public health programs,” and said immigrants contribute to the problem of “uncompensated health care costs.”

Under the government’s visa rule, the required insurance can be bought individually or provided by an employer and it can be short-term coverage or catastrophic.

Medicaid doesn’t count, and an immigrant can’t get a visa if using the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies when buying insurance. The federal government pays for those subsidies.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan immigration think tank, 57% of U.S. immigrants had private health insurance in 2017, compared with 69% of U.S.-born, and 30% had public health insurance coverage, compared with 36% of native-born.

The uninsured rate for immigrants dropped from 32% to 20% from 2013 to 2017, since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, according to Migration Policy.

There are about 1.1 million people who obtain green cards each year.

“Countless thousands across the country can breathe a sigh of relief today because the court recognized the urgent and irreparable harm that would have been inflicted” without the hold, said Jesse Bless, director of federal litigation at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Earlier this year, the administration made sweeping changes to regulations that would deny green cards to immigrants who use some forms of public assistance, but the courts have blocked that measure.