RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate a hit and run accident that sent a Manhattan woman to the hospital April 17, in critical condition.

Following Thursday’s  release of a video of the truck believed involved, a suspect has been identified, according to a media release.

A man identified himself to police as the driver of the vehicle that struck Amber Wilhelm.

Police did not arrest the suspect and his name was not released.

Amber’s family has been notified of the development.

Police and the Wilhelm family want to thank the thousands of people that shared this story from the beginning.

—————

Just before 2a.m. April 13, police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12^th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.

First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition.

 

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate a hit and run accident and asking the public to help find a vehicle.

Just before 2a.m. April 13, police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.
First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

On Thursday Riley County Police released security camera video of the truck believed to be responsible for the accident.

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Interviews with witnesses lead officers to believe there is a chance that the suspect vehicle will only have slight damage to its front end.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information on a vehicle matching the description is encouraged to call police at 785-537-2112.

 

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Jurors have acquitted a northeast Kansas man of charges that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a rural cemetery.

Jurors in Kansas’ Jackson County on Thursday found 22-year-old Jacob Ewing not guilty of charges of aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy with a child under 14 years old.

Ewing still faces trials on charges alleging that he sexually assaulted five women. Ewing has entered not guilty pleas in those cases.

During the trial that ended Thursday, the teenager testified that Ewing sodomized her in 2014 while she pleaded for him to stop. A defense witness testified that the girl later bragged about the experience.

———

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Jurors are deliberating the case against a northeast Kansas man charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in a rural cemetery.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 22-year-old Jacob Ewing also is charged with sexually assaulting five women, with the allegations dividing the small Kansas town of Holton. Ewing has entered not guilty pleas in all the cases.

The first case to go to trial involves the teen, who testified that Ewing sodomized her in 2014 while she pleaded for him to stop. A defense witness testified that the girl later bragged about the experience.

Jurors began their deliberations Thursday after hearing closing arguments. Ewing faces charges of aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy with a child under 14 years old.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the new fiscal forecast for Kansas state government (all times local):

5:12 p.m.

Kansas has seen its budget picture improve slightly after officials and university economists issued a new fiscal forecast that was a little more optimistic than the previous one.

The state’s forecasting group on Thursday increased projections for tax collections by a total of $156 million through June 2019.

The new forecast is the first positive one in three years and some good news for Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-controlled Legislature.

The new forecast replaces a pessimistic one from November assuming that economic slumps in agriculture and energy production would continue through 2018. The state had been left with budget shortfalls totaling about $1 billion through June 2019.

But tax collections since then have been better than expected.

With the new forecast, the budget gaps now total $889 million.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspects on child endangerment and drug charges.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police arrived at a mobile home in the 12,000 Block of Clarks Creek Road.

Deputies arrested Dwayne Taylor and Desire Southland, both of Junction City on suspicion of Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, and Aggravated Child Endangerment.

Taylor was also arrested on suspicion of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Southland on suspicion of Criminal Use of a Weapon.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The police chief of an eastern Wichita town says he’s received death threats over an officer’s fatal shooting of a service dog.

A vigil for the dog, Midnite, was scheduled for Wednesday. The vigil was described by event organizers as a “protest” in response to an officer’s killing of Midnite April 13.

Augusta Police Chief Tyler Brewer says people made death threats to him and his family last week. He says the officer who shot the dog has also received death threats.

Police say the officer and an animal control officer went to Alan Fitzgerald’s house investigating a report of his dog attacking a neighbor’s dog. When Midnite charged at the animal control officer, the police officer shot the dog.

Fitzgerald disputes that recounting and wanted the vigil to be “a peaceful event.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Topeka woman has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for committing health care fraud while operating a business that was licensed to provide day and residential services to developmentally disabled adults.

The U.S. attorney’s office says in a news release that 45-year-old Kristina Hansel also was ordered Wednesday to pay more than $480,000 in restitution.

The release says she billed Medicaid for services that weren’t provided and made false statements to obtain and renew her license. Prosecutors say she also admitted withholding medical treatment from a patient in one case and directing others to help her cover up medication overdoses so licensing authorities wouldn’t learn of the problem.

Prosecutors say the crimes occurred while she owned Achieve Services.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Missouri man has pleaded guilty in a Kansas wreck that killed a couple as they headed to church.

The Kansas City Star  reports that 37-year-old Harold Benton Cyphers III pleaded guilty Tuesday in Johnson County District Court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutors say the Independence man was driving under the influence of methamphetamine in July when he ran a red light in Leawood, Kansas. His vehicle than collided with the car of 69-year-old Donna Manning and her 71-year-old husband, William Manning, of Overland Park.

Cyphers also admitted to identity theft and possession of methamphetamine.

As part of the plea agreement, attorneys will recommend a sentence of 14 years and seven months in prison. Sentencing is set for May 23.

FINNEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Finney County are investigating multiple reports of criminal damage to vehicles that had recently occurred in Garden City.

The investigation revealed thirty-four vehicles damaged by having slashed tires, according to a media release.

With the cooperation of almost 25 different victims and witnesses, officers were able to identify three juvenile suspects.
Police arrested one suspect. Kenyatta Bounds, 17, could face the possible charge of Felony Criminal Damage.
The total estimated loss from the damage to vehicle tires was $9942.00.

FRANKLIN COUNTY- A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 8a.m. on Thursday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Honda Accord driven by Jessica D. Elmquist, 34, Osawatomie, was westbound on Cloud Road two miles north of Richmond.

The vehicle drifted off the roadway, hit the concrete barrier rail and rolled into the north roadside ditch.

Elmquist was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

POTTAWATOMIE – Law enforcement authorities in northeast Kansas completed an investigation into illegal drug use and sales and made three arrests.

On Monday evening, members of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by members of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks executed 3 search warrants on Monday evening at homes in the rural Manhattan area of Pottawatomie County.

Deputies found marijuana totaling approximately 9 pounds, cash and firearms.

They arrested Sandra S. Snyder, 70, of 6240 Sparrow Lane for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia.  She was released on a $1000 bond

Robert E. Snyder, 67,  of 5733 Elbo View Drive for Possession of marijuana with intent to sell, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Criminal use of Firearms, No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance.  He was released on $50,000 bond.

Brian D. Greer, 42, of 6238 Canary Lane for  Possession of marijuana with intent to sell, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Criminal use of Firearms, No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance.

Greer is currently at the Pottawatomie County Jail. His bond is set at $50,0000.

NASHVILLE -The missing Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins and kidnapped student Elizabeth Thomas have been located in Northern California, according to a social media report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Authorities arrested Cummins and Thomas is safe.

Cummins and 15-year-old Elizabeth Thomas were reported missing on March 13.

The last confirmed sighting of the pair was two days later at an Oklahoma City Wal-Mart.

Police issued an Amber alert for Thomas and say they had a warrant charging Cummins with sexual contact with a minor and aggravated kidnapping.

No additional details were released late Thursday morning.

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to a century in prison for shooting a suburban Kansas City,  police officer in the face in 2014.

Thirty-three-year-old Omar Maria was sentenced Wednesday in Clay County, where he was convicted in March of assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action.

Jurors concluded that Maria shot Pleasant Valley Police Officer Jacob Baldwin during a December 2014 traffic stop on Interstate 35 near Interstate 435.

Prosecutors said Baldwin pulled over a car driven by Maria for a vehicle registration violation, and that Maria jumped out of the vehicle and repeatedly fired at Baldwin’s windshield. Maria then sped away.

RILEY COUNTY- The search for a missing Fort Riley soldier is over and he is in custody.

On Wednesday, Fort Riley asked the Riley County Police Department to check the welfare of one of their soldiers, Staff Sgt. Garett Michael Swift, 37, a fire support specialist, according to a media release.

Officers were initially unable to locate Swift for several hours.

In the time between when police began looking for him and when he was located, Fort Riley issued a warrant for Swift’s arrest.

After RCPD made contact with Swift and verified that he was safe, police arrested him on the Fort Riley warrant.

Initially there was no warrant for Swift’s arrest, according to police. Authorities were simply attempting to verify that he was safe.

Details on the warrant were not released early Thursday.