SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody. Just after 9:30a.m. Thursday, police received report of a violent attack with a knife at a residence in the 700 Block of SE Ridgewiew Drive in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.
Officers arrived on scene and located a victim identified as 34-year-old Michael Ortiz suffering from life-threatening injuries consistent with a stabbing. The victim was transported to a local hospital by American
Medical Response and is expected to survive.
Following an investigation, police arrested 34-year-old Tiffany A. Riley. She is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of aggravated battery
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A break-in at storage units in Wichita, Kansas, became a diplomatic security issue last year because two of the units belong to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Mike Pompeo Secretary of State-photo Courtesy CSPAN
A Wichita police statement says the State Department sent a security officer to the East Side Mini Storage last November to discuss the case with police. A State Department official said it is standard procedure to send an agent to investigate any incidents involving the secretary.
The case has been temporarily closed without any viable leads or suspects.
A police report obtained through an open records request said the former Kansas congressman’s units contained tables, chairs and some campaign items.
Wichita police spokesman Officer Charley Davidson said it appears the theft was random and Pompeo’s units were not targeted.
JACKSON COUNTY, MO. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting.
Law enforcement authorities on the scene of the fatal officer-involved shooting photo courtesy KMBC TV
This incident began just before 7p.m. Thursday in the 9800 Block of East 25th Street in Independence as an attempted apprehension of a known suspect with numerous felony warrants, according to a media release.
This incident involved several local police officers and Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies.
During the attempted apprehension of the suspect, a Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot the suspect.
A second subject who was with the suspect was injured during the incident. This subject was transported to an area hospital. No officers or deputies were physically injured
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue the investigation of Tuesday’s office involved shooting and have a third suspect in jail.
Stanford photo Sedgwick Co
After his release from the hospital on Thursday afternoon, police booked 26-year-old James Stanford of Newton on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery, flee and elude, and theft.
He was identified as the driver in a stolen white Jeep Wrangler where the driver attempted to run over a WPD officer at the McDonald’s located in the 2200 block of N. Amidon on Tuesday.
Stanford wrecked the vehicle in the 3000 block of N. Halstead and fled on foot. He was later apprehended in the area of E. 29th St. North and N. Meridian Ave.
Stanford is the last suspect to be arrested in this case. Zachary Ausdemore was released from the hospital Wednesday and remains in custody. Daphne Dawn Hays was jailed immediately following the incident on Tuesday.
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Daphne Dawn Hays photo Sedgwick Co.Zachary Ausdemore photo Sedgwick Co.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue the investigation of Tuesday’s office involved shooting and have another suspect in jail.
After his release from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, police booked 30-year-old Zachary Ausdemore for aggravated robbery and an outstanding warrant out of Nebraska, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.
He was identified as the passenger in a stolen white Jeep Wrangler where the driver attempted to run over a WPD officer at the McDonald’s located in the 2200 block of N. Amidon.
Hand at the lower left of the image is the officer avoiding an attempt by the driver to run over him during Tuesday’s incident-photo courtesy Wichita Police
After the vehicle wrecked, Ausdemore then fled on foot and robbed an elderly couple of their Honda CR-V in the 2400 block of W. Stauffer.
He led officers on a lengthy vehicle pursuit, which ended in the area of 167th Street West and K-42.
Ausdemore was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting.
Just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the area of W. 21st Street North and N. Amidon to check for a stolen vehicle, according to officer Paul Cruz.
The owner of a 1999 white Jeep SAW called 911 to report the location of the vehicle. The owner, along with a family member, followed the vehicle to the McDonald’s located in the 2200 block of North Amidon.
Officers arrived while the vehicle was at the drive-thru window and attempted to take the three occupants into custody.
The driver then accelerated and attempted to run over an officer. The officer fired his handgun multiple times at the vehicle. The suspect vehicle drove around the building and rear-ended a white Buick Century that was occupied by a 72-year-old woman driver. She was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries, according to Cruz.
The suspect vehicle continued north on Amidon and into a residential area where it crashed into a tree in the 3000 block of N. Halstead. At that location, police took a 30-year-old woman passenger later identified as Daphne Hays into custody while the other suspects ran.
One of the man, a 30-year-old, ran to the 2400 block of W. Stauffer where he threatened an elderly couple and demanded the keys to their green Honda CR-V. The suspect left in their vehicle. The vehicle was located by Sheriff’s Deputies at I-235 and 25th, according to Cruz.
Daphne Dawn Hays photo Sedgwick Co.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended at 167th and K-42. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and was found to have an injury to his arm.
A 27-year-old suspect, who fled on foot at the initial crash scene on N. Halstead, was later located by officers near 29th and Meridian. The suspect was found to have a gunshot wound to his leg and was hospitalized for observation.
The two male suspects remained hospitalized Wednesday afternoon. Hays is in custody on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and a fugitive from justice, according to the Sedgwick County booking report.
The officer involved in the shooting has been with the department for almost 2-years, according to Cruz. He has been placed administrative leave per protocol.
Authorities have not released names of the two other suspects.
BROWN COUNTY — Health officials and administrators with USD 415 in Hiawatha continue to see an elevated number of individuals presenting with pneumonia-like symptoms, according to a joint media release.
While it is currently unknown what is causing illness, the Hiawatha Community Hospital and USD 415 are working closely with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Brown County Health Department to investigate this cluster of illnesses.
Due to the sickness, the school district cancelled the Bonfire games/pep rally scheduled for Thursday.
Health officials asked that if you have a fever, please stay home until you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. If you have a fever of 100.4 or greater for 3 days with a cough, please see your medical provider.
An underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma, may make illness worse so consider seeing your medical provider soon after illness starts. KDHE does not recommend to exclude a person with a cough from school or school event. A cough could have many causes including asthma, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses and does not warrant isolation. If you only have a cough, it does not mean you are sick with this illness; however, if you are having severe coughing fits, it is recommended you stay home.
As a reminder, always practice healthy habits to prevent the spread of germs, especially when you are ill. Remember to:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using the tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
If a tissue is not available, please cough or sneeze into your sleeve at the elbow. Do not cough into your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A former agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been accused of impersonating an immigration officer during a foiled attempt to help an inmate escape from a local jail in Kansas.
A criminal complaint made public Thursday charges Andrew J. Pleviak, 41, with attempted aiding of escape, false impersonation, forgery, making a false information and interference with a law enforcement officer related to the escape attempt last week from the Kingman County jail.
He is scheduled for his first court appearance Thursday and does not yet have a defense attorney who has entered an appearance on his behalf.
Pleviak is accused of falsely identifying himself to jail officials as ICE Supervisor Doug Thompson, who is an actual ICE agent in Wichita, in several phone calls seeking the release of inmate Juan Deigo Tapia-Alfaro, according to a probable cause affidavit. He allegedly told prison officials the inmate was an informant in a huge case ICE had been working on for more than a year and the inmate needed to be released.
Local jail officials contacted ICE officials in Wichita and discovered Thompson had not contacted the jail. Another local ICE agent identified Pleviak’s voice on the jail recordings, according to the affidavit. Pleviak was arrested Sept. 3 at the Kingman County Law Enforcement Center when he showed up with a fraudulent federal document for the inmate’s release.
Tapia-Alfaro is awaiting trial on unrelated state charges, including charges of identity theft to obtain benefits, and has an ICE detainer lodged against him. He has not been charged related to Pleviak’s efforts to free him.
Kingman County Sheriff Randy Hill said Pleviak and the Kingman County inmate he was trying to free had a “working relationship,” apparently involving some type of construction work.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas has confirmed that Pleviak had been assigned to a halfway house in Wichita to finish serving his own prison sentence in an unrelated federal case at the time of his arrest in Kingman County.
The federal case against Pleviak stemmed from his sending a Wichita television news anchor sensitive law enforcement material while he was employed with ICE in Kansas. KAKE-TV anchor Deb Farris told police in 2017 that Pleviak sent her law enforcement material and texted messages that were sexual in nature. She has said that Pleviak’s texts made her uncomfortable and scared her.
Pleviak’s defense attorney in that federal case told the court during sentencing last year that his client has mental health issues.
Pleviak was initially sentenced in May 2018 to time served — the six months he was in jail while awaiting trial — plus a year of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to exceeding authorized access to a government computer. But a federal judge later revoked that probation and sentenced him to 12 months in prison for violating the terms of his release by having unauthorized contact with a former employee of the Department of Homeland Security.
Retired ICE supervisor Jeffrey Artman, who was Pleviak’s boss for six years at ICE, said in an email following Pleviak’s latest arrest that he and his daughter have a protection-from-stalking order against Pleviak.
“The public is only safe when he is locked up,” Artman said.
In a separate civil case filed in 2014, an international college student from Kenya who overstayed his visa sued Pleviak and others for violently attacking him at ICE’s office in Wichita. The civil lawsuit filed by immigrant Justine Mochama was ultimately dismissed.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Kansas man charged with having inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old girl waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Donovan Hall photo Reno Co.
Donovan Hall, 29, entered a guilty plea to aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The contact occurred March 7 and again on July 21, 2018.
Even after the investigation began, he was still attempting to contact the child, according to statements in court.. That led to the family of the 11-year-old to seek a protection from abuse order against Hall. The charge against him is a level three felony with a maximum sentence of over 20 years in prison.
Sentencing will occur on Oct. 25 in front of Reno County District Judge Trish Rose.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Crime Stoppers of Wichita – Sedgwick County announced a campaign Thursday aimed at assisting law enforcement with the arrests of wanted persons with felony warrants in Sedgwick County, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.
The campaign called “Flip-A-Felon” will target specific known individuals who have warrants for
violent crimes and/or felony weapons warrants. This campaign is in collaboration with the
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Department of Corrections. Each agency has provided Crime Stoppers with a list of some of their most wanted
persons featured in this campaign.
“Crime Stoppers always looks for ways to partner with law enforcement to help solve crime and to help locate wanted individuals,” said Crime Stoppers Advisory Committee Chair Stacey
Kluge. “These campaigns have proved to be successful in the past, and we will assist in the best ways possible to help make our community safer.”
During the month-long campaign, Crime Stoppers will assist law enforcement in locating and arresting the wanted persons by providing anonymous tips that are sent to the program.
If they are arrested based off a tip through Crime Stoppers, the tipster is eligible for a cash reward starting at $500 and up to $2,500.
Tipsters should submit tips in one of three ways: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 316-267-2111, Submit a tip by downloading the FREE P3 app; or Submit a tip online at www.wichitasedgwickcountycrimestoppers.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Thursday in Montgomery County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 International Straight Truck driven by Taylor Lee Edwards, 20, Independence, was eastbound on U.S. 160 two miles east of U.S. 75.
The truck’s tire blew out. The truck traveled into the west bound lane, into the ditch, rolled multiple times and the occupants were ejected.
Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a passenger Marty Ray Brown, 52, Independence, to Freeman Hospital. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
Leavenworth Penitentiary -photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons
The federal Bureau of Prisons will provide opioid addiction treatment for a prisoner at the Leavenworth penitentiary, according to a settlement reached Wednesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union in Kansas and Missouri had sued earlier in the week on behalf of Leaman Crews. He began a three-year sentence at the prison earlier this month and had been using buprenorphine, a medication used to counter the effects of opioid withdrawal.
With the help of the medication, Crews had not used drugs for 15 months prior to entering Leavenworth.
An ACLU press release said Crews and the Bureau of Prisons reached a settlement agreement in which Crews would start getting buprenorphine on Wednesday evening.
“When he was deprived of medication for the last week, until we were able to reach this agreement with the Bureau of Prisons, he’d been suffering tremendously,” said Lauren Bonds, legal director of the ACLU of Kansas. “He’s dealt with withdrawal from the medication he was receiving, so it’s very important for our client’s health.”
The ACLU had argued that denying inmates access to buprenorphine treatment is a violation of the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids cruel and unusual punishment. The group also contended a denial ran afoul of the Rehabilitation Act, which bans federal programs from discriminating against people with disabilities.
The settlement does not address treatment for other inmates in the federal system. The ACLU said in the release that it’ll pursue lawsuits in the future to get other prisoners access to opioid treatment.
Bonds said in a phone interview that ultimately, the organization will push for a change in the Bureau of Prisons’ policy,
“Then we wouldn’t have to deal with this on such an ad hoc, case-by-case basis,” she said. “It would just ensure everyone who needs this medication is just getting it.”
Bureau of Prisons officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The suit alleged that the agency denied Crews access to buprenorphine as part of a policy to only give inmates the medication while they are detoxing and to wean them off the medication after several days.
That lawsuit said Crews is recovering from a decade-long addiction to opioids following a car accident and had been taking buprenorphine throughout his recovery.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ latest data from 2004, about half of the people incarcerated in federal prisons had symptoms of substance abuse or dependency.
Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas News Service. Follow her on Twitter @NominUJ or email nomin (at) kcur (dot) org.
