FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teenager for assault on an officer.
Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, school resource officers were asked to assist school personnel with an administrative issue involving a student in the Garden City High School Office, according to a media release.
When the officer arrived, they located 16-year-old Tomas Lacost-Nevarez in the office upset and agitated.
When Lacost-Nevarez saw the officer, he became enraged and began yelling and threatening the officer. Lacost-Nevarz threateningly approached the office who attempted to detain the student and a struggle ensued.
During the struggle, Lacost-Nevarez grabbed the officer’s gun and attempted to disarm him. Officers were able to gain control of Lacost-Nevarz and take him into custody.
He is being held in the Juvenile Detention Center and could face the possible charges of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer (F), Criminal Threat, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Assault on A Law Enforcement Officer.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former physician assistant at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas has been convicted of sex crimes against four patients.
Jurors found 66-year-old Mark Wisner guilty Wednesday of criminal sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and three counts of sexual battery. Prosecutors alleged he performed unnecessary and improper genital examinations from 2012 to 2014 while working at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth.
Wisner surrendered his medical license in 2015 after at least seven patients accused him of abuse, and medical regulators said at the time that others could come forward. Wisner agreed in a consent order that he violated the law by having inappropriate sexual contact with patients and overprescribing medication. He faces at least a dozen lawsuits, with some former VA patients seeking $3 million in damages.
———-
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former physician assistant at a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Kansas on trial for sexually abusing patients told investigators in a taped interview that he didn’t “have any business in medicine.”
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the interview was played Tuesday during the trial of Mark Wisner. The former employee at the Eisenhower Veterans Administration Medical Center in Leavenworth is charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors related to sexual battery and criminal sodomy.
He also told investigators on the recording that he “truly messed up.” Wisner surrendered his medical license in 2015 after at least seven patients accused him of abuse, and medical regulators said at the time that others could come forward. Multiple former VA patients have sued in federal court, some seeking $3 million in damages.
KANSAS CITY— A grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging the former controller of a company in Kechi with embezzling more than $175,000, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Richard H. Yurst, 64, Hutchinson, is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The crimes took place while Yurst was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of F&H Insulation Sales and Service, Inc. The indictment alleges he used company credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and he made unauthorized payments to his wife and son.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.
FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged assault on a law enforcement officer.
On Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the Dodge City Community College campus after report of man on the campus with no clothes on, according to a media release.
It was reported that the man was acting strange and throwing trash around the parking lot.
When officers arrived they were able to locate him near the cafeteria still completely nude.
The suspect was damaging property and later began throwing items at officers. Officers used a Taser and took the man into custody without further incident or injury.
He was later charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, and public nudity. No officers were injured and the man was provided medical attention for the taser deployment.
Crews in Salina preparing to deploy Wednesday night-photo Salina Fire Department
TOPEKA —Kansas is sending swift water rescue teams/search and rescue teams to support Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey.
One Type I and three Type II swiftwater/flood rescue teams with hard-bottom, air boats, and inflatable boats with personnel will be sent from the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Derby Fire Department, Chanute Fire Department, Derby Fire Department, Hutchinson Fire Department, South Hutchinson Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department, Mission Township Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Newton Fire Department/EMS, Parsons Fire Department, Pittsburg Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Sedgwick County Fire Department, Shawnee Fire Department, and Winfield Fire Department.
The teams will conduct search and rescue operations. Their objectives will be: To Search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support (BLS) medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.
The teams started deployment Wednesday night and some will deploy Thursday.
DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an assault and continue to search for a suspect.
Just after 3p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a mobile home in the 100 Block of Maple Street in Lawrence after report of a disturbance with weapons, according to a media release.
A man later identified as 27-year-old John Robert Berry was barricaded inside with a gun. A second individual was inside and unable to leave due to health reasons. Officers set up a perimeter and attempted to contact the suspect.
After 8:30p.m. officers deployed an investigative robot into the residence and determined Berry had escaped. He is wanted for aggravated assault and has previous convictions for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
MINNEAPOLIS — A Maine man who was arrested in California has been charged with second degree-intentional murder and related charges, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Schmidt today filed criminal charges against Robert Willard Colson, 34, of Bucksport, Maine, in connection with the death of Matthew Miles Schoshke on August 11 in rural Ottawa County. The charges are one count of murder in the second degree-intentional and two counts of felony theft. Colson remains in custody in California awaiting extradition to Kansas.
The attorney general’s office accepted the case for prosecution at the request of the Ottawa County Attorney’s Office. Criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Any public comments on the prosecution of Colson are governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 3.6, Trial Publicity, and Rule 3.8, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. All media requests or inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General, 120 S.W. 10th, 2nd Floor, Topeka, Kansas 66612, (785) 296-6115.
Mark Hutton, a Wichita Republican, is joining the field of candidates for Kansas governor. Hutton is a former member of the Kansas House. FILE PHOTO / KPR
The parade of candidates seeking the Kansas governor’s office continues to grow with the addition of Mark Hutton, a Republican former House member.
Hutton founded a construction company based in Wichita that he ran for years before moving into politics.
When Hutton was in the Kansas House, he defied some fellow conservatives by arguing the state should reverse an income tax exemption for thousands of business owners. In 2016 he offered a proposal that would have cut the food sales tax in exchange for reinstating the business income taxes.
Hutton said he’d bring that leadership to the governor’s office.
“I believe I’ve demonstrated in the past that I’m willing to make the hard decisions, the hard calls, that I’ll put good policy for the state ahead of political personal gain or party gain,” he said.
Hutton said as governor, he’d try to bridge gaps between political factions.
“For me, it’s about communication,” he said. “It’s about bringing people together to solve problems, not pushing them apart with philosophy.”
SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities believe a suspect who passed nine counterfeit $50 bills at Dillon’s Saturday passed another at a north Salina general store Monday.
Just after 8:30 p.m. Monday, a man matching the suspect description at Dillon’s, passed a fake $50 bill at the Casey’s General Store at 1100 East Iron in Salina, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester.
On August 26, a black male in his 20’s purchased a Visa Gift Card for $400 at the Dillon’s 2350 Planet Avenue. In Salina. The suspect gave the teenage cashier nine, $50 bills. The cashier gave the suspect the gift card and some change.
An employee discovered the bills were fake after running them through a counting machine. Capt. Paul Forrester said the bills were slightly bluer and did not have a security strip.
Security camera image courtesy Salina Police
If you have any information concerning who committed this crime, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit www.pd.salina.org and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.
BARTON COUNTY – A suspect wanted in Colorado who fled from law enforcement in Rice County Sunday night is in custody.
Deputies arrested Michael Edward Abbott, 48, just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Ellinwood, according to Rice County Sheriff Bryant Evans.
A tip from the public led to the arrest, according to Evans.
Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Abbott led a Rice County deputy in a brief pursuit.
Abbott’s vehicle failed to stop and became disabled. He fled on foot and was last seen near the intersection of Silver and 9th Streets in Geneseo until the arrest in Barton County.
Abbott is listed as a fugitive inmate with seven prior convictions, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections.
The Rice County Attorney is considering charges, according to Evans.
MANHATTAN — The hurricane and subsequent flooding in Texas this week has prompted Kansas to take action to assist and expedite disaster recovery efforts. On Aug. 30, Governor Sam Brownback signed an executive order to lift regulations on motor carriers traveling from and through Kansas en route to aid in recovery from widespread damage left by Hurricane Harvey.
Executive Order 17-03 will only apply to motor carriers and persons operating commercial motor vehicles who are directly participating in relief and restoration efforts in Texas. It will temporarily suspend licensing, certification and permitting rules and regulations; registration and fuel tax permits; and will waive fees for over dimension/overweight permits. In addition, height and weight limits for participating motor carriers have been extended to 12 feet in width and 14 feet, six inches in height.
This action will help Kansans who wish to provide hay and other supplies to help farmers and ranchers in Texas during recovery from Hurricane Harvey, as well as others who are traveling through Kansas in the relief efforts.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has created a page on the KDA website for Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery Resources, which includes the full Executive Order along with contact information for a variety of ways to help with disaster relief.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.
Police reported the burglary occurred at the Gordman’s Department Store in the 7000 Block of West Central on Monday. Police released the security camera images Wednesday.
This the second time the store has been victimized this month. On August 8, a suspect held up the store at gunpoint and wounded one employee.
Anyone who can help identify the suspect, call Crime Stoppers at 267-2111.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) Anti-Fraud Unit works to aggressively investigate, detect, prevent and prosecute welfare recipient fraud in all public assistance programs administered by DCF, including cash assistance, food assistance, child care assistance and utility assistance.
Last week, the unit’s hard work paid off. On Thursday, Aug. 24, Stephanie Hessling of Clay County, pleaded no contest to defrauding the State of more than $50,000 worth of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP is also known as food assistance.
DCF Special Investigator Laura Lindsey led the investigation on the Hesslinger’s case. As a special investigator, some of her duties include speaking to employers, neighbors, co-workers or anyone else with knowledge of the accused person. She also examines documents, such as bank records and wages. Lindsey says working fraud cases is gratifying, especially when it leads to a conviction.
“There is only so much money available for government-funded programs, such as food and cash assistance,” said Lindsey. “Assuring that these resources are in fact given to Kansans in need, versus those who are misrepresenting their situations for personal gain, is very important to me.”
In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2017, the Anti-Fraud Unit obtained more than 249 fraud judgments in the SNAP program. These DCF fraud findings resulted in more than $1.4 million in judgments. Additionally, in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2014, Kansas ranked second in the nation in the number of SNAP judgments obtained. Then again in FFY 2015, Kansas ranked third nationwide in the number of SNAP judgments. FFY 2016 and FFY 2017 rankings are not currently available.
“Protecting the integrity of our public assistance programs is a priority for this Administration, and I am proud of the diligent efforts of our Anti-Fraud Unit,” said DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. “I especially want to commend Special Investigator Laura Lindsey for her efforts to end this specific crime in Clay County.”
In July, the Anti-Fraud Unit strengthened its efforts to combat welfare benefits by offering an online submission form to report suspected incidents of fraud. Those who suspect benefits fraud are encouraged to fill out the “Fraud Report Form” online at www.dcf.ks.gov. You can also call 800-432-3913. Those who report fraud may remain anonymous.
CORRECTED: 2:02 p.m. Aug. 30 to clarify that Hessling pleaded no contest.
