HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder has ruled that Hutchinson police and other law enforcement were justified when they fired at a man wanted in connection to an earlier incident where another man was wounded in the leg.

The shooter in the June 20 incident was identified as 21-year-old Brendan Jones. Law enforcement was aware that Jones had an extensive record of criminal activity, which included resistance to police and other crimes of violence.

Officials learned he was at a home at 304 W. 16th in Hutchinson. Peaceful efforts were made to convince him to exit the residence. He told another individual in the house, “If I go outside, I’m going with a gun.” At least three larger caliber semiautomatic pistols were also inside the house with Jones. They included a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson, a 9 mm Sig Sauer, and a .45 caliber Taurus Millennium.

Another suspect in the earlier incident, Tyson Samuels, eventually came out of the residence and was taken into custody without incident. He told the arrest team, “You got to do something about Jones, he’s acting all kinds of crazy.”

Jones eventually opened the front door, walked outside, raised a .40 caliber handgun and fired multiple shots at officers. When Hutchinson police officers returned fire, Jones ducked back into the residence and continued firing shots from inside the home.

Jones later advised a negotiator he had been shot and requested help. He was ordered to drop any weapons and exit the residence. The number of times he was shot is difficult to calculate because of multiple grazing wounds. It is safe to assume he was shot at least eight times.

Schroeder says officers had a reasonable belief that the use of lethal force was necessary to protect themselves or others from great bodily injury or death. Their reactions were legally justified.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 37-year-old man who served time for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated burglary was bound over for trial in a serious domestic case.

Armando Fierro was bound over for trial with an added charge of kidnapping, aggravated battery-domestic violence, aggravated assault, aggravated arson and aggravated endangerment of a child.

It started on June 6 when police were called on the report of an aggravated battery. At one point, Fierro brought in a propane tank and threatened more violence against the victim and her three disabled children. The victim was able to escape and call police.

When officers entered the home, they could see pillows in the living room had been set on fire near where the propane tank was sitting.

Fierro’s prior convictions came after the shotgun shooting of Lloyd Eddens, who collapsed on his neighbor’s front porch after being shot in his home. Fierro later admitted to shooting Eddens accidentally. That was back in 2000.

Fierro will be back in court next month for arraignment in this latest case.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Labor released the latest unemployment numbers. The number for Hutchinson dropped to 3.4% last month. That’s a drop from 4.6% in May and lower than the 4.2% in June of last year.

For Reno County, the rate last month was at 3.2%, down from 4.2% in May and 3.9% in June of last year.

There were 642 residents looking for work in Reno County last month, most of those in Hutchinson.

“The unemployment rate in Kansas fell to 3.4 percent in June as the result of a significant decline in the number of unemployed people in the state,” Labor Economist Emilie Doerksen said. “This also reverses the slight upward trend over recent months and extends the current period of low unemployment.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The aerial spraying in Reno County to get rid of the extremely large mosquito population has been postponed because of high winds.

Spraying is now planned for Friday night.

Vector Disease Control International and Reno County had scheduled the aerial spray operation for Thursday night between 8:45 p.m. and 2 a.m.

The aerial spray operation is being conducted in response to surveillance findings that indicate increased mosquito populations. Aerial spraying is necessary to combat and control mosquitoes where ground spraying is less accessible and effective.

The plan is to fly 300 feet above the ground and spray a product commonly used for mosquito control.

Pretty Prairie is the only city that will not participate in the spraying.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 66-year-old Hutchinson man charged with robbing a Hutchinson beauty salon waived his preliminary hearing Thursday and entered a plea.

Jackie Crenshaw entered a plea to attempted robbery for going into Anima Bella Salon, 16 S. Main in Hutchinson, and forcibly taking $360 from one of the employees.

As part of the plea agreement, both sides will recommend that Crenshaw serve the sentence with an aggravated number of months in the sentencing grid box.

Crenshaw has over two dozen prior convictions for forgery, theft, burglary and drugs according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sentencing will be on Aug. 23 in front of Reno County District Judge Trish Rose.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 29-year-old man arrested last Saturday evening for distribution of drugs has been formally charged.

Terry Gant was arrested in the Walmart parking lot after an officer spotted him and knew he had warrants from Hutchinson police and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.

A K-9 officer smelled the presence of drugs and a search of his vehicle led to the discovery of 15 small bags with a crystal substance that field tested for methamphetamine. The officer also found a scale, a grinder and marijuana.

Charges include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with two or more priors, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and for personal use.

Gant remains jailed on an $18,500 bond. He will be back in court next month.

MCPHERSON, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Revenue has announced it is moving the McPherson office to a larger space. To complete this move, the current office located at 2000 E. South Front St. will be closed Friday, July 19.

The new office will open Monday, July 22, at 322 N. Main St., Suite 205, in McPherson.

“The move helps the department better serve Kansas residents with a more accommodating waiting area and provides space to adjust for growth,” David Harper, Director of Vehicles, said.

The new office is 1,800 square feet and will add a fourth processing station.

To celebrate the move, the Division of Vehicles will host a grand opening at the new office on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 38-year-old Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmate was taken to a Wichita hospital after he fell while working on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

Hutchinson police report that Christopher Boothby was on some type of hydraulic lift working on a flag pole when he fell about 15 feet and hit his head.

He was first taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, then taken to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita.

He’s been serving time for aggravated assault, flee and elude, and criminal threat.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man is jailed on a $102,000 bond on charges from a domestic case where the victim was battered, forced into a vehicle and not allowed to answer a door when police arrived. This occurred in Hutchinson just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Peter Hanson, 24, faces potential charges of kidnapping, domestic battery and interference with law enforcement.

Several witnesses reported to police that Hanson put a bear hug on the victim and forced her into a vehicle. He took her to an apartment where she was battered. Police arrived at the apartment and knocked on the door. He didn’t answer and wouldn’t allow her to answer the door either. According to statements made in court, he told her to act like she was asleep. Officers eventually forced their way in and arrested Hanson.

Ironically, there is a protection from abuse order against the victim in Colorado. Hanson is the victim in that case. Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan ordered a no contact order between the two until the case in Reno County is resolved.