By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man early Friday morning on requested charges that included attempted aggravated burglary and stalking.

Just after 2:30a.m., a 30-year-old Salina woman reported at&nbsp; Brandon Letourneau, 28, of Salina, was attempting to force his way into her residence in the 900 block of Park Street in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester&nbsp; 

Letourneau allegedly was striking the front door of the residence hard enough to leave dents in the door. The door sustained $150 in damage.

Forrester said the woman was home with three children and was able to identify Letourneau from her window.

Letourneau fled the scene before officers arrived, however, they found him hiding in the 200 block of N. College Avenue and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of Attempted aggravated burglary, Stalking, Violation of a protection order and Damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678455884570.jpeg" alt="Brandon Letourneau-photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Letourneau-photo&nbsp;Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man early Friday morning on requested charges that included attempted aggravated burglary and stalking.Just after 2:30a.m., a 30-year-old Salina woman reported at&nbsp; Brandon Letourneau, 28, of Salina, was attempting to force his way into her residence in the 900 block of Park Street in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester&nbsp; Letourneau allegedly was striking the front door of the residence hard enough to leave dents in the door. The door sustained $150 in damage.Forrester said the woman was home with three children and was able to identify Letourneau from her window.Letourneau fled the scene before officers arrived, however, they found him hiding in the 200 block of N. College Avenue and arrested him on&nbsp; requested charges of Attempted aggravated burglary, Stalking, Violation of a protection order and Damage to property.

Kan. man attempted to break into home of woman, 3 children

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678461969178.jpeg" alt="Marion Patricia Robinson, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Marion Patricia Robinson, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678462273245.jpeg" alt="Charles Anthony Acosta Second, Failure to appear; Aggravated assault; Use of deadly weapon; Domestic battery; unknown circumstance; Criminal damage to property; Value unknown; Arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Charles Anthony Acosta Second, Failure to appear; Aggravated assault; Use of deadly weapon; Domestic battery; unknown circumstance; Criminal damage to property; Value unknown; Arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678463532763.jpeg" alt="Reggie Eugene Blocker, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Reggie Eugene Blocker, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678463685758.jpeg" alt="Calvin Fontenot, Outside Warrant; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Calvin Fontenot, Outside Warrant; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678463774341.jpeg" alt="Patrick Anthony Lowery, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Patrick Anthony Lowery, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678463835129.jpeg" alt="Eric Joseph McClure, Outside warrant; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Eric Joseph McClure, Outside warrant; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678464327187.jpeg" alt="Stephanie Renee Meier, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Stephanie Renee Meier, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678464411304.jpeg" alt="Howard Ray Quigley, Probation Violation; arrested 3/10" />
 <figcaption>Howard Ray Quigley, Probation Violation; arrested 3/10</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678464473178.jpeg" alt="Kara Inez Smith, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9" />
 <figcaption>Kara Inez Smith, Failure to appear; arrested 3/9</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos March 10

Two Hays residents remain jailed following the execution of a search warrant issued in relation to a death in Hays in February.

At 6:35 p.m. Feb. 26, Hays Police Department officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Fourth on the report of an unresponsive female, according to Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler.

“Officers arrived and lifesaving efforts were attempted, but it was determined that female had passed,” Scheibler said.

The Ellis County Coroner was notified, and the department initiated an investigation.

“The investigation revealed that the likely cause of death was the victim had ingested fentanyl,” Scheibler said.

The most likely source was a counterfeit Oxycodone tablet, he said.

On March 2, members of the department and the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at an apartment in the 2800 block of Grant Avenue.

“During the search, pills consistent with the pills found at the death scene we're located,” Scheibler said.

Based on the investigation, Kimberly Beth Schmeidler, 48, Hays, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of a controlled substance causing death, use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute an opiate and possession with intent to distribute a narcotic drug, Scheibler said.

Brandon Joseph Kahrs, 36, Hays, was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to use an opiate, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession to distribute an opiate.

“Both are still in the Ellis County jail and are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Scheibler said.

“The reality of it is these drugs are in Hays, Kansas,” Scheibler said. “Parents need to be having a conversation with their children right now. They can't take pills, can’t smoke pills, can’t ingest them if they don't get them from the doctor. People are dying in our community from drug overdoses.

“It is going to continue to be a priority for us, and those that sell drugs that kill people most definitely will be a priority for us. We are going to continue to focus on these people and hold them accountable.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645113218229.png" alt="Fake oxycodone pills often contain fentanyl. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration" />
 <figcaption>Fake oxycodone pills often contain fentanyl. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostTwo Hays residents remain jailed following the execution of a search warrant issued in relation to a death in Hays in February.At 6:35 p.m. Feb. 26, Hays Police Department officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Fourth on the report of an unresponsive female, according to Hays Police Department Chief Don Scheibler.“Officers arrived and lifesaving efforts were attempted, but it was determined that female had passed,” Scheibler said.The Ellis County Coroner was notified, and the department initiated an investigation.“The investigation revealed that the likely cause of death was the victim had ingested fentanyl,” Scheibler said.The most likely source was a counterfeit Oxycodone tablet, he said.On March 2, members of the department and the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at an apartment in the 2800 block of Grant Avenue.“During the search, pills consistent with the pills found at the death scene we're located,” Scheibler said.Based on the investigation, Kimberly Beth Schmeidler, 48, Hays, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of a controlled substance causing death, use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony drug violation, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute an opiate and possession with intent to distribute a narcotic drug, Scheibler said.Brandon Joseph Kahrs, 36, Hays, was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to use an opiate, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession to distribute an opiate.“Both are still in the Ellis County jail and are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Scheibler said.“The reality of it is these drugs are in Hays, Kansas,” Scheibler said. “Parents need to be having a conversation with their children right now. They can't take pills, can’t smoke pills, can’t ingest them if they don't get them from the doctor. People are dying in our community from drug overdoses.“It is going to continue to be a priority for us, and those that sell drugs that kill people most definitely will be a priority for us. We are going to continue to focus on these people and hold them accountable.”

2 arrested following fentanyl overdose death in Hays

WASHINGTON – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday on a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the United States Attorney.

 His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

&nbsp;Michael Eckerman, 38, of Wichita, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Eckerman pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia in November 2022. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered 24 months of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.

&nbsp;According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Eckerman illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At approximately 2 p.m., Eckerman observed rioters fighting with police officers outside the Capitol and encouraged them by yelling at the officers that they were “traitors to the country.” He and others then walked through scaffolding and up a set of steps leading to the Upper West Terrace. He entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Doors at approximately 2:24 p.m.

&nbsp;While inside the building, Eckerman participated in three separate breaches of police lines. First, he joined a crowd in pushing their collective bodies forward to breach a police line in the Crypt. Eckerman and others then surged forward and funneled toward the east side of the Capitol. Second, near the Memorial Doors, he and others in the mob encountered another small group of officers who were trying to block access to nearby stairs leading to Statuary Hall and the area near the Speaker’s Lobby. Eckerman pushed his way to the front of the stand-off and once again used his body as part of a collective surge to get past the small line of law enforcement officers. At this moment, he was face to face with an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, who put his hand on Eckerman’s shoulder. Eckerman pushed the officer—forcibly resisting, impeding, and interfering with the officer—which, along with the actions of others in the mob, caused the officer to stumble down some steps, leaving the officer vulnerable. While that officer was on the ground, another rioter sprayed him with a fire extinguisher.&nbsp; Eckerman participated in a third physical breach of a police line just outside the House chamber, at a time Congresspeople and staff members were still sheltering in place inside.

After that third breach, Eckerman continued moving through the building, and at one point entered the Rayburn Conference Room, where he posed for photographs. He finally exited the Capitol at approximately 2:44 p.m.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas and the Middle District of Florida.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, and its Wichita Resident Agency, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Boston Field Office and its Lowell, Massachusetts and Bedford, New Hampshire Resident Agencies. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659042081555.png" alt="Eckerman photo U.S. Attorney's office" />
 <figcaption>Eckerman photo U.S. Attorney's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday on a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the United States Attorney. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.&nbsp;Michael Eckerman, 38, of Wichita, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Eckerman pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia in November 2022. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered 24 months of supervised release and $2,000 in restitution.&nbsp;According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Eckerman illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At approximately 2 p.m., Eckerman observed rioters fighting with police officers outside the Capitol and encouraged them by yelling at the officers that they were “traitors to the country.” He and others then walked through scaffolding and up a set of steps leading to the Upper West Terrace. He entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Doors at approximately 2:24 p.m.&nbsp;While inside the building, Eckerman participated in three separate breaches of police lines. First, he joined a crowd in pushing their collective bodies forward to breach a police line in the Crypt. Eckerman and others then surged forward and funneled toward the east side of the Capitol. Second, near the Memorial Doors, he and others in the mob encountered another small group of officers who were trying to block access to nearby stairs leading to Statuary Hall and the area near the Speaker’s Lobby. Eckerman pushed his way to the front of the stand-off and once again used his body as part of a collective surge to get past the small line of law enforcement officers. At this moment, he was face to face with an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, who put his hand on Eckerman’s shoulder. Eckerman pushed the officer—forcibly resisting, impeding, and interfering with the officer—which, along with the actions of others in the mob, caused the officer to stumble down some steps, leaving the officer vulnerable. While that officer was on the ground, another rioter sprayed him with a fire extinguisher.&nbsp; Eckerman participated in a third physical breach of a police line just outside the House chamber, at a time Congresspeople and staff members were still sheltering in place inside.After that third breach, Eckerman continued moving through the building, and at one point entered the Rayburn Conference Room, where he posed for photographs. He finally exited the Capitol at approximately 2:44 p.m.Eckerman was arrested on Sept. 20, 2021.This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas and the Middle District of Florida.The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, and its Wichita Resident Agency, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Boston Field Office and its Lowell, Massachusetts and Bedford, New Hampshire Resident Agencies. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Prison for Kan. man who pushed Capitol officer in Jan. 6 riot 

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678372589577.jpeg" alt="Nicklos Ryan Bancroft, Failure to appear, arrested 3/8" />
 <figcaption>Nicklos Ryan Bancroft, Failure to appear, arrested 3/8</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678372637763.jpeg" alt="Donnithan Maurice Jones, Failure to appear, Outside warrant; arrested 3/8" />
 <figcaption>Donnithan Maurice Jones, Failure to appear, Outside warrant; arrested 3/8</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos March 9

A 71-year-old Salina man was arrested after an alleged stabbing in front of a south Salina retail store late Wednesday morning.

Just before noon Wednesday, the law enforcement dispatch center received a call that someone had been stabbed in front of Walmart, 2900 S. Ninth Street, according to a media release.

When officers arrived, they found a 26-year-old woman who suffered a stab wound to her back. EMS transported her to Salina Regional Health Center.&nbsp;

"Officers were directed to a man who was still at the scene and he was identified as the person who committed the stabbing. Police took Kenneth Harold Smith, 71, of Salina, into custody on requested charges of Aggravated weapons violation by a convicted felon; Unknown circumstance,&nbsp;Criminal use of weapons; poss w/ intent to use, Criminal carry weapon; Concealed billy/blackjack and attempted murder in 1st degree; Intentional/premeditated, according to online jail records.

The motive is unclear, and investigators are attempting to gather additional information. We are also seeking any information from anyone in the public that may have witnessed the event. Photographs or video are especially helpful, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678359930810.png" alt="Smith-photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith-photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA 71-year-old Salina man was arrested after an alleged stabbing in front of a south Salina retail store late Wednesday morning.Just before noon Wednesday, the law enforcement dispatch center received a call that someone had been stabbed in front of Walmart, 2900 S. Ninth Street, according to a media release.When officers arrived, they found a 26-year-old woman who suffered a stab wound to her back. EMS transported her to Salina Regional Health Center.&nbsp;"Officers were directed to a man who was still at the scene and he was identified as the person who committed the stabbing. Police took Kenneth Harold Smith, 71, of Salina, into custody on requested charges of Aggravated weapons violation by a convicted felon; Unknown circumstance,&nbsp;Criminal use of weapons; poss w/ intent to use, Criminal carry weapon; Concealed billy/blackjack and attempted murder in 1st degree; Intentional/premeditated, according to online jail records.The motive is unclear, and investigators are attempting to gather additional information. We are also seeking any information from anyone in the public that may have witnessed the event. Photographs or video are especially helpful, according to police.

Police: 71-year-old stabbed woman outside Salina Walmart

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Tuesday afternoon crash south of Kansas City made an arrest.

According to online arrest reports, 65-year-old Sarah P. Hollister of Brinkley, Arkansas, who was driving the Ford Explorer that rolled killing a 3-year-old and injuring 5&nbsp; on MO 7 in Cass County faces requested charges of felony child endangerment and driving while intoxicated. She was initially held at the Cass County Regional Hospital in Harrisonville.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Hollister was eastbound on MO 7 just east of Freedom Road southeast of Kansas City.

The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. Hollister overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

EMS transported Hollister and passengers Tyrone C. Harris, 41; Ashley V. Payne, 26; Kevon T. Johnson, 23, and two 10-year-old boys all of Brinkley, Arkansas to Cass Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; Only a 10-year-old boy was wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678275340789.png" alt="The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Tuesday afternoon crash south of Kansas City made an arrest.According to online arrest reports, 65-year-old Sarah P. Hollister of Brinkley, Arkansas, who was driving the Ford Explorer that rolled killing a 3-year-old and injuring 5&nbsp; on MO 7 in Cass County faces requested charges of felony child endangerment and driving while intoxicated. She was initially held at the Cass County Regional Hospital in Harrisonville.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Hollister was eastbound on MO 7 just east of Freedom Road southeast of Kansas City.The SUV traveled off the left side of the road. Hollister overcorrected causing the vehicle to skid and roll. A 3-year-0ld girl was ejected before the SUV came to rest in the median.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene.EMS transported Hollister and passengers Tyrone C. Harris, 41; Ashley V. Payne, 26; Kevon T. Johnson, 23, and two 10-year-old boys all of Brinkley, Arkansas to Cass Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; Only a 10-year-old boy was wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Driver in crash that killed 3-year-old, injured 6 accused of DUI

RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred in February 2023 involving a 13-year-old boy known to her, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested 28-year-old Elizabeth Butry on requested charges that include three counts of rape, two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct, and one count each of attempted rape and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

She remains confined in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond pending her first appearance in court.

RILEY COUNTY –&nbsp;A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred in February 2023 involving a 13-year-old boy known to her, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.Just after 11a.m. Tuesday, police arrested 28-year-old Elizabeth Butry on requested charges that include three counts of rape, two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct, and one count each of attempted rape and furnishing alcohol to a minor.She remains confined in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond pending her first appearance in court.

RCPD: Manhattan woman accused of sex crimes with 13-year-old

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678283419327.jpeg" alt="Matias Ramon Briseno, Possession of controlled substance; unknown substance; Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Taxation: Drugs; no drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or cont substance; Failure to yield at stop or yield sign; arrested 3/7" />
 <figcaption>Matias Ramon Briseno, Possession of controlled substance; unknown substance; Distribute marijuana; 25 - &lt;450 grams; Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Taxation: Drugs; no drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or cont substance; Failure to yield at stop or yield sign; arrested 3/7</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678283631880.jpeg" alt="Robert Wayne Powell, contract housing; arrested 3/7" />
 <figcaption>Robert Wayne Powell, contract housing; arrested 3/7</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos March 8

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a building fire and have made an arrest.

Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a vacant commercial building fire at 1221 SW Huntoon Street in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;

First responders&nbsp;found smoke and flames coming from the single story building. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack.

Investigators determine the fire was intentionally set and police arrested 65-year-year-old Joslynn Y. Barnett of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested arson charges.

The total estimated loss from the fire is $18,000, all of which is associated with structural loss. There were no injuries. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the building.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678211305098.png" alt="The result of the fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The result of the fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a building fire and have made an arrest.Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a vacant commercial building fire at 1221 SW Huntoon Street in Topeka, according to a media release.&nbsp;First responders&nbsp;found smoke and flames coming from the single story building. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678211155970.png" alt="Barnett-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnett-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators determine the fire was intentionally set and police arrested 65-year-year-old Joslynn Y. Barnett of Topeka and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested arson charges.The total estimated loss from the fire is $18,000, all of which is associated with structural loss. There were no injuries. Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in the building.

Kansas woman accused of starting fire that caused $18K damage

KANSAS CITY – A Mexican national who was arrested for driving while intoxicated has been sentenced in federal court for illegally entering the United States for the third time, according to the United State's Attorney.

Juan Antonio Tejeda-Quiroz, 42, residing in Grandview, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on March 1, to three years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 22, 2022, Tejeda-Quiroz pleaded guilty to one count of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported following a conviction for a crime of violence.

On April 30, 2022, around 2:30 a.m., a white Buick Century driven by Tejeda-Quiroz reversed out of a driveway and crashed into a marked Grandview police patrol vehicle parked on the 13000 block of 15th Street in Grandview. Tejeda-Quiroz was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Tejeda-Quiroz, a citizen and national of Mexico, illegally entered the United States in February 1994. On Sept. 6, 2001, Tejeda-Quiroz was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of arson. He threw a firebomb inside a car occupied by his wife, causing her to jump from the moving car that caught fire and exploded, and then used his car to threaten her. He was sentenced to five years of probation and received a deferred sentence. On Dec. 4, 2001, Tejeda-Quiroz was deported to Mexico.

Tejeda-Quiroz illegally entered the United States a second time. He was arrested for burglary of a vehicle on Dec. 8, 2002. On March 17, 2006, he was arrested for illegally reentering the United States, which violated the terms of his probation. His probation was revoked on June 16, 2006, and he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. On July 13, 2012, Tejeda-Quiroz was again deported to Mexico.

Tejeda-Quiroz illegally reentered the United States a third time in 2018. On May 25, 2018, he was arrested in Lawrence, Kansas for driving under the influence. He was arrested in Liberty, Mo., in July 2021 for driving without a valid license and no insurance. He was arrested in Olathe, Kan., in March 2022 for driving without a license.

Tejeda-Quiroz used alias names, according to court documents, presumably to avoid detection. Tejeda-Quiroz has used controlled substances, including cocaine, and heroin, snorting around one-half gram of heroin a day up until his arrest, according to court documents.

KANSAS CITY – A Mexican national who was arrested for driving while intoxicated has been sentenced in federal court for illegally entering the United States for the third time, according to the United State's Attorney.Juan Antonio Tejeda-Quiroz, 42, residing in Grandview, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on March 1, to three years and six months in federal prison without parole.On Sept. 22, 2022, Tejeda-Quiroz pleaded guilty to one count of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported following a conviction for a crime of violence.On April 30, 2022, around 2:30 a.m., a white Buick Century driven by Tejeda-Quiroz reversed out of a driveway and crashed into a marked Grandview police patrol vehicle parked on the 13000 block of 15th Street in Grandview. Tejeda-Quiroz was arrested for driving while intoxicated.Tejeda-Quiroz, a citizen and national of Mexico, illegally entered the United States in February 1994. On Sept. 6, 2001, Tejeda-Quiroz was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of arson. He threw a firebomb inside a car occupied by his wife, causing her to jump from the moving car that caught fire and exploded, and then used his car to threaten her. He was sentenced to five years of probation and received a deferred sentence. On Dec. 4, 2001, Tejeda-Quiroz was deported to Mexico.Tejeda-Quiroz illegally entered the United States a second time. He was arrested for burglary of a vehicle on Dec. 8, 2002. On March 17, 2006, he was arrested for illegally reentering the United States, which violated the terms of his probation. His probation was revoked on June 16, 2006, and he was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. On July 13, 2012, Tejeda-Quiroz was again deported to Mexico.Tejeda-Quiroz illegally reentered the United States a third time in 2018. On May 25, 2018, he was arrested in Lawrence, Kansas for driving under the influence. He was arrested in Liberty, Mo., in July 2021 for driving without a valid license and no insurance. He was arrested in Olathe, Kan., in March 2022 for driving without a license.Tejeda-Quiroz used alias names, according to court documents, presumably to avoid detection. Tejeda-Quiroz has used controlled substances, including cocaine, and heroin, snorting around one-half gram of heroin a day up until his arrest, according to court documents.

Mexican man sentenced in KC for Illegally entering U.S. 3-times

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities arrested a Kansas man after an alleged incident involving a mini-sledgehammer.

On Monday evening, officers were sent to Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, for the report of a woman who was injured in an alleged altercation on Saturday with 42-year-old Jason Hudson of Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The 37-year-old woman and her 23-year-old boyfriend were sitting in her 2000 Chevrolet Suburban when Hudson, who was known to them, approached the passenger side, where the boyfriend was sitting. A verbal argument ensued and Hudson allegedly went back to his vehicle, got a three-pound mini-sledgehammer, and returned to the passenger side of the Suburban.

Hudson allegedly broke the passenger-side window with the mini-sledgehammer and swung it inside the Suburban, striking the woman. Forrester said the woman had gone to the hospital because of injuries she allegedly received in the incident, and that those injuries were consistent with what she told police about the alleged incident.

Forrester said Hudson also showed up at the hospital and was arrested requested charges of Aggravated battery, Aggravated assault and Criminal damage to property.

Hudson has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated burglary, aggravated failure to appear, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

The passenger-side window on the Suburban also sustained $250 worth of damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678200544215.jpeg" alt="Hudson has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated burglary and aggravated failure to appear, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hudson has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated burglary and aggravated failure to appear, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections- photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities arrested a Kansas man after an alleged incident involving a mini-sledgehammer.On Monday evening, officers were sent to Salina Regional Health Center, 400 S. Santa Fe Avenue, for the report of a woman who was injured in an alleged altercation on Saturday with 42-year-old Jason Hudson of Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The 37-year-old woman and her 23-year-old boyfriend were sitting in her 2000 Chevrolet Suburban when Hudson, who was known to them, approached the passenger side, where the boyfriend was sitting. A verbal argument ensued and Hudson allegedly went back to his vehicle, got a three-pound mini-sledgehammer, and returned to the passenger side of the Suburban.Hudson allegedly broke the passenger-side window with the mini-sledgehammer and swung it inside the Suburban, striking the woman. Forrester said the woman had gone to the hospital because of injuries she allegedly received in the incident, and that those injuries were consistent with what she told police about the alleged incident.Forrester said Hudson also showed up at the hospital and was arrested requested charges of Aggravated battery, Aggravated assault and Criminal damage to property.Hudson has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, burglary, aggravated burglary, aggravated failure to appear, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of CorrectionsThe passenger-side window on the Suburban also sustained $250 worth of damage.

Kan. felon with a dozen convictions jailed for sledgehammer attack

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two Americans were back on U.S. soil Tuesday after surviving a deadly kidnapping in Mexico, and have been taken to a Texas hospital for treatment. Two other Americans were killed.

Irving Barrios, Tamaulipas state’s top prosecutor confirmed the two Americans were turned over to U.S. authorities at the international bridge to Brownsville, Texas.

They were then taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, according to the Brownsville Herald.

A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI.

A road trip to Mexico for cosmetic surgery ended with two Americans dead — and two others found alive in a rural area near the Gulf coast — after a violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video, officials said Tuesday.

The surviving Americans were sped to the border near Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas, in a convoy of ambulances and SUVs escorted by Mexican military Humvees and National Guard trucks with mounted .50-caliber machine guns.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative</a>&nbsp;of one of the victims said Monday that the four had traveled together from the Carolinas so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place.

The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreño on the way to the Gulf coast known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">“Bagdad Beach,”</a>&nbsp;according to a Mexican state law enforcement official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. Word of their location came to authorities before dawn Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear if the two bodies were also being returned to the U.S. In announcing the Americans had been found, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person’s injuries.

Shortly after entering Mexico, the four were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. Video and photographs taken during and immediately after the abduction show the Americans’ white minivan sitting beside another vehicle, with at least one bullet hole in the driver's side window. A witness said the two vehicles had collided. Almost immediately, several men in tactical vests and toting assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene.

The gunmen walked one of the Americans into the bed of a white pickup, then dragged and loaded the three others. Terrified drivers sat silently in their cars, hoping not to draw their attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless.

Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday’s crossfire.

The shootings illustrate the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.

Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.

López Obrador said one person was in custody.

“Those responsible will be found and they are going to be punished,” the president said. He referenced arrests made in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border.

He complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”

“It’s very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) has the right to protest like they have,” López Obrador said. “We really regret that this happens in our country.”

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his sympathy for the families of the victims.

“The cartels are responsible for the deaths of Americans,” Garland said. “The DEA and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on.”

He would not confirm the Mexican government's reports that the two U.S. citizens had died.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. is working with Mexican officials to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the killings.

“Attacks on U.S citizens are unacceptable, no matter where, under what circumstances they occur,” Kirby said.

The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims’ return and the arrest of the kidnappers.

Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that his brother, 38-year-old Eric Williams, was among the kidnapped Americans. The brothers are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina, he said.

Williams described his brother as “easygoing” and “fun-spirited.”

He didn’t know his brother was traveling to Mexico until after the abduction hit the news. But from looking at his brother’s Facebook posts, he thinks his brother did not consider the trip dangerous.

“He thought it would be fun,” Williams said. He hadn’t heard anything about his brother’s whereabouts, he said.

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two Americans whose abduction in Mexico was captured in a video that showed them caught in a cartel shootout have been found dead, officials said Tuesday. Two others who were kidnapped with them were found alive, with one wounded.

Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person’s injuries.

The surviving Americans were taken to the border near Brownsville, Texas, in a convoy of Mexican ambulances and SUVs, as seen by an Associated Press journalist Tuesday morning. It was not immediately clear if the bodies of the deceased were also being returned to the U.S.

The vehicles sped down a long dirt road escorted by Mexican military Humvees, armored vehicles, state police and National Guard in trucks with mounted .50-caliber machine guns.

The FBI had said Sunday it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing U.S. citizens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative</a>&nbsp;of one of them said Monday that the group had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the border city of Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place.

Shortly after entering Mexico they were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.

Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday's crossfire.

The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreño on the way to an area on the Gulf coast known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">“Bagdad Beach,”</a>&nbsp;according to a state authority who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Word of their location came to authorities before dawn Tuesday.

López Obrador said one suspect was in custody.

“Those responsible will be found and they are going to be punished,” he said, referencing arrests made in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border.

Mexico's president complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”

“It’s very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) has the right to protest like they have,” he said. “We really regret that this happens in our country.”

The abduction illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.

Video and photographs taken during and immediately after the abduction Friday show the Americans’ white minivan sitting beside another vehicle that a witness said had collided with it. Almost immediately several gunmen in tactical vests and toting assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene.

They walked one of the Americans to a white pickup and dragged and loaded the three others while terrified drivers sat silently in their cars hoping not to draw their attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two of four Americans abducted in Mexico last week when their van was caught in a shootout were found dead, a top Mexican official said Tuesday. The two others have been found alive, with one wounded.

Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person's injuries, saying, "right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going to give the corresponding support.” The governor offered no additional information about where or how the U.S. citizens were found.

The FBI reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who were kidnapped Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative of one of them</a>&nbsp;said Monday that they had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.

Shortly after entering Mexico they were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen. Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday's crossfire.

Mexico's president complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalizing things. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two U.S. citizens missing since their violent abduction last week in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros have been found dead and two others are alive, the state’s governor said Tuesday.

Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said that one of the surviving U.S. citizens was wounded and the other was not.

The FBI had reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who had been kidnapped Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative of one of them said Monday that they had</a>&nbsp;traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a Matamoros doctor.

Shortly after entering Mexico Friday they were caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.

“Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going for them for give the corresponding support," Villarreal said

The governor did not share any additional details about where or how they were found.

Mexican officials said a Mexican woman also had died in Fridays' crossfire.

The incident illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two Americans were back on U.S. soil Tuesday after surviving a deadly kidnapping in Mexico, and have been taken to a Texas hospital for treatment. Two other Americans were killed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ALERT: U.S. Consulate General Matamoros, México (March 3, 2023) <a href="https://t.co/m9o23gPsQx">https://t.co/m9o23gPsQx</a> <a href="https://t.co/nLDz143Eb2">pic.twitter.com/nLDz143Eb2</a>&mdash; Embajada EU en Mex (@USEmbassyMEX) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyMEX/status/1631772375430709249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Irving Barrios, Tamaulipas state’s top prosecutor confirmed the two Americans were turned over to U.S. authorities at the international bridge to Brownsville, Texas.They were then taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, according to the Brownsville Herald.A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI.------------A road trip to Mexico for cosmetic surgery ended with two Americans dead — and two others found alive in a rural area near the Gulf coast — after a violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video, officials said Tuesday.The surviving Americans were sped to the border near Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas, in a convoy of ambulances and SUVs escorted by Mexican military Humvees and National Guard trucks with mounted .50-caliber machine guns.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative</a>&nbsp;of one of the victims said Monday that the four had traveled together from the Carolinas so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the Mexican border city of Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place.The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreño on the way to the Gulf coast known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">“Bagdad Beach,”</a>&nbsp;according to a Mexican state law enforcement official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. Word of their location came to authorities before dawn Tuesday.It was not immediately clear if the two bodies were also being returned to the U.S. In announcing the Americans had been found, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person’s injuries.Shortly after entering Mexico, the four were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. Video and photographs taken during and immediately after the abduction show the Americans’ white minivan sitting beside another vehicle, with at least one bullet hole in the driver's side window. A witness said the two vehicles had collided. Almost immediately, several men in tactical vests and toting assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene.The gunmen walked one of the Americans into the bed of a white pickup, then dragged and loaded the three others. Terrified drivers sat silently in their cars, hoping not to draw their attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless.Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday’s crossfire.The shootings illustrate the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.López Obrador said one person was in custody.“Those responsible will be found and they are going to be punished,” the president said. He referenced arrests made in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border.He complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”“It’s very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) has the right to protest like they have,” López Obrador said. “We really regret that this happens in our country.”U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his sympathy for the families of the victims.“The cartels are responsible for the deaths of Americans,” Garland said. “The DEA and the FBI are doing everything possible to dismantle and disrupt and ultimately prosecute the leaders of the cartels and the entire networks that they depend on.”He would not confirm the Mexican government's reports that the two U.S. citizens had died.White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. is working with Mexican officials to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the killings.“Attacks on U.S citizens are unacceptable, no matter where, under what circumstances they occur,” Kirby said.The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims’ return and the arrest of the kidnappers.Robert Williams said in a telephone interview that his brother, 38-year-old Eric Williams, was among the kidnapped Americans. The brothers are from South Carolina but now live in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina, he said.Williams described his brother as “easygoing” and “fun-spirited.”He didn’t know his brother was traveling to Mexico until after the abduction hit the news. But from looking at his brother’s Facebook posts, he thinks his brother did not consider the trip dangerous.“He thought it would be fun,” Williams said. He hadn’t heard anything about his brother’s whereabouts, he said.___CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two Americans whose abduction in Mexico was captured in a video that showed them caught in a cartel shootout have been found dead, officials said Tuesday. Two others who were kidnapped with them were found alive, with one wounded.Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person’s injuries.The surviving Americans were taken to the border near Brownsville, Texas, in a convoy of Mexican ambulances and SUVs, as seen by an Associated Press journalist Tuesday morning. It was not immediately clear if the bodies of the deceased were also being returned to the U.S.The vehicles sped down a long dirt road escorted by Mexican military Humvees, armored vehicles, state police and National Guard in trucks with mounted .50-caliber machine guns.The FBI had said Sunday it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing U.S. citizens.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative</a>&nbsp;of one of them said Monday that the group had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the border city of Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place.Shortly after entering Mexico they were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday's crossfire.The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Longoreño on the way to an area on the Gulf coast known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">“Bagdad Beach,”</a>&nbsp;according to a state authority who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Word of their location came to authorities before dawn Tuesday.Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.López Obrador said one suspect was in custody.“Those responsible will be found and they are going to be punished,” he said, referencing arrests made in the 2019 killings of nine U.S.-Mexican dual citizens in Sonora near the U.S. border.Mexico's president complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalism. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”“It’s very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) has the right to protest like they have,” he said. “We really regret that this happens in our country.”The abduction illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.Video and photographs taken during and immediately after the abduction Friday show the Americans’ white minivan sitting beside another vehicle that a witness said had collided with it. Almost immediately several gunmen in tactical vests and toting assault rifles arrived in another vehicle to surround the scene.They walked one of the Americans to a white pickup and dragged and loaded the three others while terrified drivers sat silently in their cars hoping not to draw their attention. Two of the victims appeared to be motionless.The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims’ return and the arrest of the kidnappers.-----------MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two of four Americans abducted in Mexico last week when their van was caught in a shootout were found dead, a top Mexican official said Tuesday. The two others have been found alive, with one wounded.Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal did not provide details on the extent of the wounded person's injuries, saying, "right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going to give the corresponding support.” The governor offered no additional information about where or how the U.S. citizens were found.The FBI reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who were kidnapped Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative of one of them</a>&nbsp;said Monday that they had traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in the border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.Shortly after entering Mexico they were caught amid fighting between rival cartel groups in the city. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen. Officials said a Mexican woman also died in Friday's crossfire.Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.López Obrador said one suspect was in custody.Mexico's president complained about the U.S. media’s coverage of the missing Americans, accusing them of sensationalizing things. “It’s not like that when they kill Mexicans in the United States, they go quiet like mummies.”“It’s very unfortunate, they (the U.S. government) has the right to protest like they have,” he said. “We really regret that this happens in our country.”The abduction illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for the victims’ return and the arrest of the kidnappers.--------------MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two U.S. citizens missing since their violent abduction last week in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros have been found dead and two others are alive, the state’s governor said Tuesday.Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said that one of the surviving U.S. citizens was wounded and the other was not.The FBI had reported Sunday that it was searching with Mexican authorities for the missing Americans, who had been kidnapped Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-americans-kidnapped-gulf-drug-cartel-2700637729e8f3a5065005231aa8d4d3">A relative of one of them said Monday that they had</a>&nbsp;traveled together from South Carolina so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a Matamoros doctor.Shortly after entering Mexico Friday they were caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. A video showed them being loaded into the back of a pickup truck by gunmen.Villarreal confirmed the deaths by phone during a morning news conference by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying details about the four abducted Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.“Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going for them for give the corresponding support," Villarreal saidThe governor did not share any additional details about where or how they were found.Mexican officials said a Mexican woman also had died in Fridays' crossfire.The incident illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel who often fight among themselves. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.---------

2 Americans kidnapped in Mexico dead, 2 others rescued

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man's murder and have a suspect in custody.

On Monday, the Topeka Police Department received information of a deceased person in the area of SW 3rd St. and SW Harrison Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

Topeka Police detectives acted on the information and located a man dead in the 200 block of SW Harrison Street.&nbsp; At the time, police investigated this as a suspicious death.

Early Tuesday, police reported the arrest of 26-year-old&nbsp; Serena Sanchez of Topeka and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. She is being held on requested charges of Murder in the 2nd degree; Intentional, according to Monasmith.

Police have not released victim's name or how he died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678188600989.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Monday-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Monday-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man's murder and have a suspect in custody.On Monday, the Topeka Police Department received information of a deceased person in the area of SW 3rd St. and SW Harrison Street, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678189959780.png" alt="Sanchez photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanchez photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka Police detectives acted on the information and located a man dead in the 200 block of SW Harrison Street.&nbsp; At the time, police investigated this as a suspicious death.Early Tuesday, police reported the arrest of 26-year-old&nbsp; Serena Sanchez of Topeka and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. She is being held on requested charges of Murder in the 2nd degree; Intentional, according to Monasmith.Police have not released victim's name or how he died.

Police: 26-year-old Kansas woman accused of murder

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678199250548.jpeg" alt="Callie Corine Keener, Failure to appear; arrested 3/6" />
 <figcaption>Callie Corine Keener, Failure to appear; arrested 3/6</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678199318161.jpeg" alt="Jessie Daniel Kopietz, Failure to appear x6; arrested 3/6" />
 <figcaption>Jessie Daniel Kopietz, Failure to appear x6; arrested 3/6</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos March 7

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas last week to buy medicine but were caught in a shootout that killed at least one Mexican citizen, U.S. and Mexican officials said Monday.

The four were in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. They came under fire on Friday shortly after entering the city of Matamoros from Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas near the Gulf coast, the FBI San Antonio Division office said in a statement Sunday.

“All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men,” the office said. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the victims' return and the arrest of the kidnappers.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday the four were going to buy medicine, “there was a confrontation between groups, and they were detained,” without offering details.

A woman driving in Matamoros saw what appeared to be the shooting and abduction. She asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.

The scene illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the Gulf cartel who often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-mexico-shootings-health-coronavirus-pandemic-046b8c762155f8b5e5a3f24185d37a5b">fight among themselves</a>. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared just in Tamaulipas state, where Matamoros is located.

The woman said she saw the white minivan get hit by another vehicle near an intersection, then gunfire rang out.

Another SUV rolled up and several armed men hopped out.

“All of a sudden they (the gunmen) were in front of us,” she said. “I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, ‘if we move they will see us, or they might shoot us.’”

She said the gunmen forced a woman, who was able to walk, into the back of a pickup truck. Another person was carried to the truck by the gunmen but could still move his head.

“The other two they dragged across the pavement, we don't know if they were alive or dead,” she said.

Mexican authorities arrived minutes later.

A video posted to social media Friday shows men with assault rifles and tan body armor loading the four people into the bed of a pickup truck in broad daylight. One was alive and sitting up, but the others appeared to be either dead or wounded.

Shootouts in Matamoros on Friday were so bad that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert about the danger and local authorities warned people to shelter in place. It was not immediately clear how the abductions could have been connected to that violence Friday.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday that the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and an “innocent” Mexican citizen died in the attack. He said various U.S. justice agencies were working with their Mexican counterparts to recover the missing. Authorities have provided no other details about who the victims were or where they were from.

President Joe Biden had been informed of the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She declined to answer other questions, citing privacy concerns.

Tamaulipas state police said people had been killed and injured Friday, but not how many. The state police said on social media that neither law enforcement nor the military were involved in “two armed incidents between unidentified civilians.”

Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted, because the cartels have a history taking bodies of their own with them. Local media often avoid reporting on such incidents out of safety concerns, creating an information vacuum.

Photographs from the scene viewed by The Associated Press show a white minivan with the driver’s side window shot out and all of the doors open, sitting on the side of the road after apparently colliding with red SUV. Multiple people were lying in the street beside it surrounded by rifle-toting gunmen.

Their positions appeared to correspond with the video posted online that was taken from another angle, which showed them being dragged across the street and loaded into the bed of a white pickup. One person who was sitting up in the street walks under their own power to the pickup. At least one other appeared to lift his head from the pavement before being dragged to the truck.

Tamaulipas state’s many border crossings with Texas make it lucrative for the cartels that move drugs, migrants and guns between Mexico and the U.S.

The State Department’s travel warning for Tamaulipas warns U.S. citizens not to travel there. However, being a border city, U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross to visit family, attend medical appointments or shop. It would also be a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico.

Previously, as the headquarters of the powerful Gulf cartel, Matamoros was relatively calm. For years, a night out in Matamoros was also part of the “two-nation vacation” for spring breakers flocking to Texas’ South Padre Island.

But increased cartel violence over the past 10 to 15 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">frightened away much of that business.</a>&nbsp;Sometimes U.S. citizens are swept up in the violence.

Three U.S. siblings disappeared near Matamoros in October 2014 and were later found shot to death and burned. They had disappeared two weeks earlier while visiting their father in Mexico. Their parents said they had been abducted by men dressed in police gear identifying themselves as “Hercules,” a tactical security unit in the violent border city.

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Gunmen kidnapped four U.S. citizens who crossed into Mexico from Texas last week to buy medicine but were caught in a shootout that killed at least one Mexican citizen, U.S. and Mexican officials said Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ALERT: U.S. Consulate General Matamoros, México (March 3, 2023) <a href="https://t.co/m9o23gPsQx">https://t.co/m9o23gPsQx</a> <a href="https://t.co/nLDz143Eb2">pic.twitter.com/nLDz143Eb2</a>&mdash; Embajada EU en Mex (@USEmbassyMEX) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyMEX/status/1631772375430709249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The four were in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. They came under fire on Friday shortly after entering the city of Matamoros from Brownsville, the southernmost tip of Texas near the Gulf coast, the FBI San Antonio Division office said in a statement Sunday.“All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men,” the office said. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the victims' return and the arrest of the kidnappers.Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday the four were going to buy medicine, “there was a confrontation between groups, and they were detained,” without offering details.A woman driving in Matamoros saw what appeared to be the shooting and abduction. She asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.The scene illustrates the terror that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a city dominated by factions of the Gulf cartel who often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-mexico-shootings-health-coronavirus-pandemic-046b8c762155f8b5e5a3f24185d37a5b">fight among themselves</a>. Amid the violence, thousands of Mexicans have disappeared just in Tamaulipas state, where Matamoros is located.The woman said she saw the white minivan get hit by another vehicle near an intersection, then gunfire rang out.Another SUV rolled up and several armed men hopped out.“All of a sudden they (the gunmen) were in front of us,” she said. “I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, ‘if we move they will see us, or they might shoot us.’”She said the gunmen forced a woman, who was able to walk, into the back of a pickup truck. Another person was carried to the truck by the gunmen but could still move his head.“The other two they dragged across the pavement, we don't know if they were alive or dead,” she said.Mexican authorities arrived minutes later.A video posted to social media Friday shows men with assault rifles and tan body armor loading the four people into the bed of a pickup truck in broad daylight. One was alive and sitting up, but the others appeared to be either dead or wounded.Shootouts in Matamoros on Friday were so bad that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert about the danger and local authorities warned people to shelter in place. It was not immediately clear how the abductions could have been connected to that violence Friday.U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday that the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and an “innocent” Mexican citizen died in the attack. He said various U.S. justice agencies were working with their Mexican counterparts to recover the missing. Authorities have provided no other details about who the victims were or where they were from.President Joe Biden had been informed of the situation, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She declined to answer other questions, citing privacy concerns.Tamaulipas state police said people had been killed and injured Friday, but not how many. The state police said on social media that neither law enforcement nor the military were involved in “two armed incidents between unidentified civilians.”Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted, because the cartels have a history taking bodies of their own with them. Local media often avoid reporting on such incidents out of safety concerns, creating an information vacuum.Photographs from the scene viewed by The Associated Press show a white minivan with the driver’s side window shot out and all of the doors open, sitting on the side of the road after apparently colliding with red SUV. Multiple people were lying in the street beside it surrounded by rifle-toting gunmen.Their positions appeared to correspond with the video posted online that was taken from another angle, which showed them being dragged across the street and loaded into the bed of a white pickup. One person who was sitting up in the street walks under their own power to the pickup. At least one other appeared to lift his head from the pavement before being dragged to the truck.Tamaulipas state’s many border crossings with Texas make it lucrative for the cartels that move drugs, migrants and guns between Mexico and the U.S.The State Department’s travel warning for Tamaulipas warns U.S. citizens not to travel there. However, being a border city, U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross to visit family, attend medical appointments or shop. It would also be a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico.Previously, as the headquarters of the powerful Gulf cartel, Matamoros was relatively calm. For years, a night out in Matamoros was also part of the “two-nation vacation” for spring breakers flocking to Texas’ South Padre Island.But increased cartel violence over the past 10 to 15 years&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-donald-trump-caribbean-international-news-d3f0b97ae09d49f9842a92c20a70f20a">frightened away much of that business.</a>&nbsp;Sometimes U.S. citizens are swept up in the violence.Three U.S. siblings disappeared near Matamoros in October 2014 and were later found shot to death and burned. They had disappeared two weeks earlier while visiting their father in Mexico. Their parents said they had been abducted by men dressed in police gear identifying themselves as “Hercules,” a tactical security unit in the violent border city.

FBI: 4 kidnapped Americans crossed into Mexico to buy medicine

DICKINSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase on Interstate 70.

Just after noon Thursday, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop with a 2021 Toyota passenger car for traffic infractions on Interstate 70 in Dickinson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.

The Toyota accelerated rapidly in an attempt to flee and the deputy initiated a pursuit. The Toyota swerved toward patrol vehicles during the pursuit and then exited Interstate 70 and went south on Jeep Road. 

The Toyota attempted to turn onto a gravel driveway in the 2000 block of Jeep Road but crashed into the ditch and then proceeded to drive into a field. 

The vehicle eventually came to a stop and the male driver later identified as 37-year-old Joel Edward Hayes of Colorado Springs, Colo., exited the vehicle and ran but was apprehended after a short distance.

&nbsp;A passenger in the vehicle identified as 29-year-old Brenna Alison Fitzgerald of Peyton, Colo., was taken into custody and transported to the Abilene hospital due to injuries received when the Toyota traveled through the ditch.&nbsp;

Further investigation resulted in the recovery of numerous stolen tools from Colorado Springs, two firearms, more than 9,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills believed to contain fentanyl, 1.4 lbs of methamphetamine, 84 grams of heroin, 34 grams of marijuana, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

Deputies booked Hayes into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute opioids, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of stolen property, criminal damage to property, and aggravated assault on a Law Enforcement Office. Hayes was also arrested on a warrant that was issued in El Paso County, Colorado for fail to appear on drug and weapon related charges.

After her treatment at the hospital, Fitzgerald was booked into the Dickinson County jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute opioids, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678114370566.png" alt="Hayes-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hayes-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase on Interstate 70.Just after noon Thursday, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop with a 2021 Toyota passenger car for traffic infractions on Interstate 70 in Dickinson County, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.The Toyota accelerated rapidly in an attempt to flee and the deputy initiated a pursuit. The Toyota swerved toward patrol vehicles during the pursuit and then exited Interstate 70 and went south on Jeep Road. The Toyota attempted to turn onto a gravel driveway in the 2000 block of Jeep Road but crashed into the ditch and then proceeded to drive into a field. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and the male driver later identified as 37-year-old Joel Edward Hayes of Colorado Springs, Colo., exited the vehicle and ran but was apprehended after a short distance.&nbsp;A passenger in the vehicle identified as 29-year-old Brenna Alison Fitzgerald of Peyton, Colo., was taken into custody and transported to the Abilene hospital due to injuries received when the Toyota traveled through the ditch.&nbsp;Further investigation resulted in the recovery of numerous stolen tools from Colorado Springs, two firearms, more than 9,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills believed to contain fentanyl, 1.4 lbs of methamphetamine, 84 grams of heroin, 34 grams of marijuana, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678114402814.png" alt="Fitzgerald-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Fitzgerald-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies booked Hayes into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute opioids, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of stolen property, criminal damage to property, and aggravated assault on a Law Enforcement Office. Hayes was also arrested on a warrant that was issued in El Paso County, Colorado for fail to appear on drug and weapon related charges.After her treatment at the hospital, Fitzgerald was booked into the Dickinson County jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute opioids, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property.

Deputies find pills with fentanyl, stolen property after I-70 chase

Sheriff Brian C. Hill announces four females are in custody following the execution of a narcotics related search warrant in the 5300 block of SW Reeder Street this morning. Just after 9a.m. Friday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force served a narcotics related search warrant in the 5300 block of SW Reeder Street.

During the search, deputies and officers located numerous illegal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and multiple drug paraphernalia items.

The following individuals were located inside the residence and were arrested for outstanding warrants including 47-year-old Stacy D. Stinnett; 20-year-old Keanna D. Douglas, 20; 45-year-old Stephanie A. Graham all of Topeka.

Gisella K. Pryor, 56, of Topeka was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677937269445.png" alt="Stinnett-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Stinnett-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sheriff Brian C. Hill announces four females are in custody following the execution of a narcotics related search warrant in the 5300 block of SW Reeder Street this morning. Just after 9a.m. Friday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force served a narcotics related search warrant in the 5300 block of SW Reeder Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677937530106.png" alt="Douglas-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Douglas-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the search, deputies and officers located numerous illegal counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and multiple drug paraphernalia items.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677937460286.png" alt="Graham-Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Graham-Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The following individuals were located inside the residence and were arrested for outstanding warrants including 47-year-old Stacy D. Stinnett; 20-year-old Keanna D. Douglas, 20; 45-year-old Stephanie A. Graham all of Topeka. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677937410558.png" alt="Pryor-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Pryor-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Gisella K. Pryor, 56, of Topeka was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing of drug paraphernalia.

4 Kansas women arrested after search warrant at Kan. home

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tens of thousands of Texans from the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth area routinely drive across the Red River to gamble in glitzy, Las Vegas-style tribal casinos or to relax at cabins or swim and ski in lakes that dot southern Oklahoma.

Soon, they could come north for another draw: recreational marijuana.

Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-marijuana-oklahoma-general-ee1bab3b4b25fda860d1477ac109e077">approve a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that legalizes consuming the plant for adults 21 and older. The conservative state already has one of the nation's most robust medical marijuana programs, and industry proponents hope an influx of Texas consumers will be a boon for a market that's become saturated.

“There are thousands and thousands of Texans who are increasingly coming to Oklahoma as a tourist destination,” said Ryan Kiesel, a former state lawmaker and one of the organizers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">State Question 820</a>. “I want to be able to sell legal, regulated and taxed marijuana to those Texans over the age of 21, and take their tax dollars and invest them in Oklahoma schools and Oklahoma health care.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677941306901.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tens of thousands of Texans from the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth area routinely drive across the Red River to gamble in glitzy, Las Vegas-style tribal casinos or to relax at cabins or swim and ski in lakes that dot southern Oklahoma.Soon, they could come north for another draw: recreational marijuana.Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-marijuana-oklahoma-general-ee1bab3b4b25fda860d1477ac109e077">approve a ballot measure</a>&nbsp;that legalizes consuming the plant for adults 21 and older. The conservative state already has one of the nation's most robust medical marijuana programs, and industry proponents hope an influx of Texas consumers will be a boon for a market that's become saturated.“There are thousands and thousands of Texans who are increasingly coming to Oklahoma as a tourist destination,” said Ryan Kiesel, a former state lawmaker and one of the organizers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/820.pdf">State Question 820</a>. “I want to be able to sell legal, regulated and taxed marijuana to those Texans over the age of 21, and take their tax dollars and invest them in Oklahoma schools and Oklahoma health care.”The population of the booming Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex alone — closing in on 8 million people — is nearly double that of the entire state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma is expected to see an increase of $1.8 billion in recreational sales that would generate about $434 million in excise tax revenue alone from 2024 to 2028 if the measure passes, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://vicentellp.com/img/content/downloads/An_Economic_Impact_and_Tax_Analysis_of_Oklahoma_State_Question_820.pdf">economic impact study</a>&nbsp;sponsored by the cannabis industry. By far the largest number of out-of-state consumers would be from Texas, followed by Arkansas and Kansas, the report shows.Oklahoma already has one of the most liberal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-us-news-ap-top-news-ar-state-wire-health-58daeb2ed452710e03ea4542976a620a">medical marijuana programs</a>&nbsp;in the country, with roughly 10% of the state's adult population having a medical license. Unlike most other states, Oklahoma has no list of qualifying medical conditions, allows patients to get a recommendation from a doctor online, and gives licenses that are valid for two years.Supporters of SQ 820 initially tried to get the question on the November ballot, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-marijuana-special-oklahoma-e99404c21e880093fd2093d20581d5ff">delay in verifying the signatures</a>&nbsp;led to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt calling for a special election just for that proposal.People in the industry say Oklahoma's low barrier to entry led to thousands of licensed growers, processors and dispensary operators competing for a limited number of patients. While inflation is causing the cost of many products to go up, marijuana prices at dispensaries have plummeted, and many operators are going out of business. A website for cannabis-related sales shows thousands of Oklahoma grow operations and dispensaries up for sale."They allowed for a free-market cannabis industry, and that’s what everyone wanted, but now we need more customers,” said Chip Baker, a grower who also runs a marijuana garden supply shop in Oklahoma City. “There needs to be an influx of people here to buy this product. It’s just simple math.”Kevin Pattah, a Michigan native who came to Oklahoma to get into the cannabis business, now operates six Mango Cannabis retail locations across the state. He said the price of 1-gram cartridges of marijuana concentrate that retailed for $60-$70 in 2019 is now going for $20. Prices for marijuana flower and other products also have plunged.“There’s so much product on the market, and there’s only so much demand. It hurts everyone,” said Pattah, whose dispensary features a prominent digital screen with a countdown to Tuesday's vote. "We've felt the heat as well.“Our average ticket was $130 at one point. Now they're spending an average of $60. So, it's less than half now.”Pattah said the expansion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-marijuana-nd-state-wire-utah-mo-state-wire-fc8269d59d084ceab360f2fcd9456ec6">legalized sales in Michigan in 2018</a>&nbsp;was a huge boon to medical operators in that state, particularly those who ran dispensaries near its border with Ohio and Indiana.While many in Oklahoma's cannabis industry are eager for recreational sales, opponents include a group of clergy, law enforcement and prosecutors led by former Republican Gov. Frank Keating, an ex-FBI agent. Current Gov. Kevin Stitt and nearly all the Republicans in the Oklahoma Senate also have announced their opposition.Opponents cite an increase in the amount of Oklahoma marijuana being exported out of state and sold on the black market, as well as criminal activity associated with some marijuana grows, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-marijuana-homicide-oklahoma-f6922f0e9b96cac4b25867bf698be6e9">execution-style slayings of four Chinese nationals</a>&nbsp;at an illegal marijuana farm in rural Oklahoma.“SQ 820 throws a match into the middle of what already is a powder keg in rural Oklahoma,” said Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux, president of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association.Not everyone in law enforcement is overly concerned about legalized marijuana. Sheriff Ray Sappington in Cooke County, Texas, which borders Oklahoma and includes a major north-south interstate, I-35, said that while his deputies may end up arresting more people for bringing marijuana into Texas from Oklahoma, it's not his top priority.“Our issues are not marijuana, to be honest with you,” said Sappington, who said most people caught with less than 2 ounces of cannabis are issued a citation and released. “Fentanyl is so deadly, and we're facing that all across the nation. That's the battle. It's not marijuana.”Still, marijuana legalization is a non-starter in the Texas Capitol and is poised to stay that way as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott settles into a new four-year term. That has left marijuana supporters in Texas looking elsewhere — including with ballot measures in some cities. In November, five Texas cities approved referendums to decriminalize marijuana possession. One was Denton, less than an hour’s drive from the Oklahoma border.If approved, Oklahoma would be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-legalization-2022-midterm-elections-c693f5e23e0faf2f39168df6a2f80ab2">22nd state to legalize cannabis</a>&nbsp;and likely the most conservative, following defeats of similar proposals in Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota last year. Under Oklahoma's plan, anyone over the age of 21 would be able to purchase and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, plus concentrates and marijuana-infused products. People could also legally grow up to 12 marijuana plants. Recreational sales would be subjected to a 15% excise tax on top of the standard sales tax. The excise tax would be used to help fund local municipalities, the court system, public schools, substance abuse treatment and the state’s general revenue fund.The proposal also outlines a judicial process for people to seek expungement or dismissal of prior marijuana-related convictions.