KANSAS CITY (AP) — Court documents say a Kansas City man had a blood-alcohol level that was three times the legal limit when he caused a deadly crash.
Thirty-nine-year-old Paul Dowdell was charged Saturday with driving while intoxicated in the deadly collision. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
The Jackson County prosecutor’s office says Dowell had a blood-alcohol level of .295 in January when he crossed a lane divider on Interstate 470 in a Cadillac Eldorado and struck a tractor-trailer. The truck’s driver, Daniel Shafer, was ejected when the rig crashed into a concrete barrier. He died the next day.
Prosecutors say Dowdell left the hospital against medical advice before an officer arrived. He was arrested Saturday.
Court records show he has two prior DUI convictions in Missouri.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— A man who escaped from custody in Topeka on October 29 is back in jail.
Russell photo Topeka Police
Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, Jordan Russell, 20, turned himself back into the the Law Enforcement Center in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Police have no released all the charges he will face as a result of his escape.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are attempting to locate a suspect wanted for aggravated escape from custody.
Jordan R. Russell, 20, is approximately 5-foot-10, and weighs 210 pounds, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.
Russell was last seen at the Topeka Law Enforcement Center at 2:10 p.m. He is believed to have taken off his green Department of Corrections jumpsuit and his current clothing is unknown.
According to police, if you know his location, please do not attempt to apprehend him yourself please call 911 immediately to report his whereabouts.
A 26-year-old Hays man was sentenced to more than five years in prison Monday for having sex with a 14-year-old.
Sanetta / Ellis County photo
Robert Sanetta was originally charged with two counts of indent liberties with a child and one count of criminal sodomy for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old in 2018.
As the result of a plea agreement, Sanetta pleaded no contest in September to the two felony counts of indent liberties and the criminal sodomy charged was dismissed.
Under the agreement, Sanetta was expected to be sentenced to probation Monday in Ellis County District Court, but Chief Judge Glenn Braun sentenced Sanetta to 64 months in prison.
The victim and her mother addressed the court before Braun issued his sentence. They both said they thought of Sanetta as a member of their family. Sanetta also said he felt like he was a part of their family but claimed that not all of the facts were brought to light in court.
His lawyer claimed the same thing, saying there was a lack of parental supervision.
Braun said he understood the reason County Attorney Tom Drees agreed to probation in the case. But he noted he did not see any mitigating factors, pointing out a 14-year-old cannot enter into a consensual sexual relationship, especially with someone who was 11 years older than her at the time.
Braun said probation was not in the best interest in this case and sentenced Sanetta to prison.
Sanetta will be subject to 24 months post-release supervision and must register and a sex offender for 25 years.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ lone congressional Democrat is urging her Kansas Republican colleagues to speak out against a policy that would allow faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to get taxpayer funding even if they turn away same-sex couples based on religious beliefs.
Rep. Sharice Davids sent a letter Tuesday asking GOP colleagues to use their relationships with President Donald Trump to help reverse the policy, proposed by the administration on Friday. Davids is one of nine LGBTQ members of Congress.
I will not sit silently by while this Administration dismantles protections for LGBTQ adoptive and foster parents. It’s time for this Administration to do right by our children and families and reverse this decision. 5/5
WARRENSBURG, Mo — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the accidental shooting death of a college student.
Just after 3:30p.m. the Department of Public Safety at the University of Central Missouri responded to a report of an accidental discharge of a firearm at an on-campus apartment, according to a media release from the school.
The accident resulted in the death of Stephon Abron, a student from St. Charles, Missouri. Campus officers immediately determined there was no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation has resulted in the arrest of a UCM student Jeremy Manley on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
“The UCM community is saddened by this tragedy. The university will offer assistance through the counseling center to students who may need support. The Employee Assistance Program is available to assist employees,” according to a statement the release.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and Warrensburg Police Department have been working with UCM Public Safety on the investigation.
Authorities have not released details surrounding the shooting.
KIOWA COUNTY —A teen suspect arrested in connection with a high-speed chase and crash that sent a Kansas deputy to the hospital remains in custody in Pratt County.
Mason photo Pratt County
The chase initially started Thursday on the Kansas Turnpike, according to Lt. John Lenherr with the Kansas Highway Patrol. Troopers responded to reports of reckless driver on a motorcycle. When authorities first observed the red 2001 Honda motorcycle, it was traveling at over 140 miles per hour, according to Lenherr. Due to the danger involved, troopers ultimately discontinued the pursuit and notified law enforcement agencies east of Wichita.
The suspect later identified as 18-year-old Isaac Mason of Wisconsin continued west quickly through Pratt County. Authorities in Kiowa County located the motorcycle on U.S. 54 just east of Greensburg, according to Sheriff Chris Tedder.
As officers turned to stop the vehicle, the motorcycle accelerated gaining about a half mile on the deputies and traveled into Greensburg.
During the pursuit into town, the driver of lead patrol unit Undersheriff Scott McCann lost control of a 2019 Dodge Charger. The vehicle hit a curb drove across Olive Street into a field, struck a sign and came to rest upright in a drainage ditch, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol
Authorities eventually stopped Mason at the Ford-Kiowa County line and took him into custody without further incident.
EMS transported McCann to Kiowa County Memorial Hospital and he was later transported by ambulance to Wichita, in stable but critical condition. The sheriff’s office has not provided an update on his condition. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Mason is being held on a $50,000 bond on requested charges that include aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer; use of a deadly weapon, Interference with a law enforcement officer; falsely report a crime intending to obstruct and felony failure to stop at an accident, according to online jail records.
SALINA —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a registered Kansas offender on new charges after an arrest.
Cody Talbott photo KBI offender registry
Just after 11:30p.m. Monday, a patrol officer noticed a man on a blue BMX bicycle riding in the middle of the street in the 800 block of Windsor Drive in Salina, according to Captain Paul Forrester.
The officer attempted to make contact with the man, but he rode the bicycle into the front yard of a residence and then took off on foot behind the residence.
The officer gave chase and was able to apprehend Cody Talbot in the backyard of another residence further south on Windsor Drive, Forrester said.
Talbot had several outstanding felony warrants, two violations of the registered offender act, and an aggravated failure to appear, according to Forrester.
While searching Talbot and the backpack he was carrying, the officer found slightly less than three ounces of methamphetamine and two handguns.
In addition to the outstanding warrants, Talbot was arrested on requested charges of Possession with the intent to distribute a stimulant, No drug tax stamp, Possession of methamphetamine with prior conviction, Criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Interference with a law enforcement officer and Improper bike lamps or reflectors. He has previous convictions for burglary, drugs and violations of the offender registration act, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
ROOKS COUNTY —The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has offered new details about a mountain lion kills in Rooks County earlier this year.
photo courtesy KDWP&T Game Wardens
The mountain lion, found in late January, was shot and killed by bird hunters, according to the KDWPT.
The department sent tissue samples to the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Mont., for testing.
The results showed the male mountain lion had a 99.8 percent probability of belong to the South Dakota/Nebraska breeding population, which includes animals sampled from the Black Hills of South Dakota and western Nebraska, according to KDWPT.
For more information about wildlife sightings or other rare encounters, click HERE.
JUNCTION CITY—One member of the public spoke to the Geary USD 475 Board of Education Monday evening concerning recent alleged racial comments endured by some JCHS students at the Junction City – Manhattan football game on Oct. 11.
Mary Edwards addressed the USD 475 board Monday night-image courtesy USD 475
Mary Edwards noted that she was a concerned parent of a youth attending Junction City High School. ” I would like to know what the status is of the racial harassment incident that occurred Oct. 11, 2019 at the football game in Manhattan. ” Edwards added she would like to know why the JCHS administration has not kept the parents informed or even informed the parents of the incident.
Edwards stated the Board is in charge of the policies and creating the curriculum for the district. “So I first ask that you either create or update a policy that provides instruction for the high school administration and school staff to follow if and when another incident occurs.” Edwards wants to see the schools required to provide diversity and inclusion training for school administration, staff and students. “Also require training for staff administrators on best practices, on how to respond to racial harassment as well as training for the students on what they need to do when they encounter these situations.”
Both the Geary County and Manhattan – Ogden school districts have previously issued statements indicating that they are working together to investigate the events and deal with the racial behavior as they move forward.
There was no response from the Board to Edwards Monday evening, but that is normal practice during the public comment period. Those sessions are intended to allow members of the public to give input to the school board and administration.
OSAGE COUNTY — A Kansas woman originally jailed on 20 counts of alleged animal cruelty has entered a plea agreement in the case.
Shaffer-photo Osage County
On October 31, Christi L. Shaffer, 53, Lyndon, entered pleas of no contest, was convicted of two counts of animal cruelty and one count of allowing a dangerous animal to be at large, according to the sheriff’s department.
Shaffer was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law on all counts and the sentences were ordered to run consecutive for a controlling sentence of 30 months in the Osage County jail.
She was further ordered to serve 45 days of that sentence. The balance of the sentence was suspended and she will serve a 36 month term of probation.
Shaffer also agreed to relinquish ownership of the dogs and Magistrate Judge Shannon Rush severed her ownership interest in the dogs not to own or possess animals of any kind during the term of her probation.
Shaffer was fined $1,100.00 and was ordered to pay restitution to the Osage County Sheriff in the amount of $1,222.39 for veterinary care that had been provided for the dogs.
In mid-October, the Osage County Sheriff’s office issued a public warning about the emaciated Alaskan Tundra Shepherds that were reported loose west of Lyndon, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.
The dogs had been moved and authorities did not know where.
As part of the plea agreement Shaffer was ordered to provide information concerning the location of the dogs.
Sheriff Dunn investigated the validity of the information provided and has been in contact with the individual in possession of the dogs. Fortunately, this individual appears to have provided excellent care for the dogs. Their condition has greatly improved. Some of the dogs have already been adopted and the remaining dogs will receive appropriate care until permanent adoptive homes are located.
