RILEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating an altercation in Manhattan made an arrest.

Just after 9p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police&nbsp;responded to the report of a battery at O'Malley's Bar, 1210 Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

It was reported a 44-year-old man and 44-year-old woman identified as Kelly and Travis Poland, both of Colorado, punched 21- and 50-year-old men while at the establishment. 

Police arrested the couple on a requested charge of&nbsp; battery.&nbsp; Both were issued bonds of $750 and are no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities investigating an altercation in Manhattan made an arrest.Just after 9p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police&nbsp;responded to the report of a battery at O'Malley's Bar, 1210 Moro Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.It was reported a 44-year-old man and 44-year-old woman identified as Kelly and Travis Poland, both of Colorado, punched 21- and 50-year-old men while at the establishment. Police arrested the couple on a requested charge of&nbsp; battery.&nbsp; Both were issued bonds of $750 and are no longer in custody, according to the RCPD.

Colorado couple arrested after altercation in Aggieville

MORRIS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a traffic stop and pursuit.

Just before noon Friday, sheriff's deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle on West Mackenzie Street near 4th Street in White City, according to a media release.

Deputies cited the driver identified as Dennis R. Shoaf, 44, of White City for speeding and no proof of insurance. After questioning about the insurance, Shoaf sped away and later stopped again for deputies who arrested him on requested charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, interference with law enforcement, disorderly conduct, battery on a law enforcement officer, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and no vehicle liability insurance.

MORRIS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a traffic stop and pursuit.Just before noon Friday, sheriff's deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle on West Mackenzie Street near 4th Street in White City, according to a media release.Deputies cited the driver identified as Dennis R. Shoaf, 44, of White City for speeding and no proof of insurance. After questioning about the insurance, Shoaf sped away and later stopped again for deputies who arrested him on requested charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, interference with law enforcement, disorderly conduct, battery on a law enforcement officer, flee or attempt to elude law enforcement and no vehicle liability insurance.

Kan. man jailed for alleged drug possession after traffic stop, chase

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent robbery and arrested five suspects.&nbsp;

Just after 4a.m. Sept. 9, police were dispatched to the 1200 Block of Wanamaker in Topeka in reference to report of an aggravated robbery to a person, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested, Ryan Barranco, 36; Breanna Watson, 31, and Holly Taylor, 45, all of Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault and Theft under $500.00.

Officers also arrested&nbsp;Preston Patterson, 39 and Lauren Ortiz, 32, both of Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Theft under $500.00, Possession of Meth with intent to distribute, Possession of Cocaine with intent to distribute, Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute and&nbsp;Felon in possession of a firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662913710584.png" alt="Watson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Watson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent robbery and arrested five suspects.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662913640921.png" alt="Taylor-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Taylor-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 4a.m. Sept. 9, police were dispatched to the 1200 Block of Wanamaker in Topeka in reference to report of an aggravated robbery to a person, according to Lt. Donna Eubanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662914223882.png" alt="Barranco-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Barranco-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result of the investigation, police arrested, Ryan Barranco, 36; Breanna Watson, 31, and Holly Taylor, 45, all of Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault and Theft under $500.00.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662914153949.png" alt="Patterson-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Patterson-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662914082834.png" alt="Ortiz-photo Shawnee co." />
 <figcaption>Ortiz-photo Shawnee co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers also arrested&nbsp;Preston Patterson, 39 and Lauren Ortiz, 32, both of Topeka on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Theft under $500.00, Possession of Meth with intent to distribute, Possession of Cocaine with intent to distribute, Possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute and&nbsp;Felon in possession of a firearm.

Police: 5 accused of violent Kansas robbery

KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A Kansas man is facing prison time after he admitted to downloading child pornographic images from the Internet. Justin Packham, 34, of &nbsp;Shawnee pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, in December 2020, the Shawnee Police Department received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that dozens of child pornography images had been uploaded into Google Drive. An investigation revealed the email account used for the upload belonged to Justin Packham.

In February 2021, Packham was arrested for a parole violation with the State of Kansas Department of Corrections. &nbsp;After obtaining a search warrant for his residence, Shawnee investigators following up on the cybertip found more than 1,000 child pornography photos and videos on various electronic devices and thumb drives. Packham admitted to law enforcement that he’d downloaded the images from the Internet.&nbsp;

Packham is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He has been registered as a violent offender since a 2009 conviction for criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, according to the KBI registry.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Shawnee Police Department are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662753880290.png" alt="Packham -photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Packham -photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A Kansas man is facing prison time after he admitted to downloading child pornographic images from the Internet. Justin Packham, 34, of &nbsp;Shawnee pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, in December 2020, the Shawnee Police Department received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that dozens of child pornography images had been uploaded into Google Drive. An investigation revealed the email account used for the upload belonged to Justin Packham.In February 2021, Packham was arrested for a parole violation with the State of Kansas Department of Corrections. &nbsp;After obtaining a search warrant for his residence, Shawnee investigators following up on the cybertip found more than 1,000 child pornography photos and videos on various electronic devices and thumb drives. Packham admitted to law enforcement that he’d downloaded the images from the Internet.&nbsp;Packham is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8 and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He has been registered as a violent offender since a 2009 conviction for criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling, according to the KBI registry.The U.S. Secret Service and the Shawnee Police Department are investigating the case.

Violent Kansas offender admits downloading child porn

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack that sent a woman to the hospital.

Just before 6:30 pm, Sept. 7, police were dispatched to a stabbing in the 1300 block of South Broadway in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp; First responders located a 42-year-old woman with non-life-threatening injuries to her back torso area. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The investigation revealed that an altercation between the victim and&nbsp;43-year-old Mareo Dupree of Wichita led to the stabbing

Police arrested Dupree on a requested charges of aggravated battery. He <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=23689">is being held on a $100,000 bond</a>, according to online jail records.

This is not a random incident and Dupree and the victim are believed to be known to each other, according to Ditch. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662730010653.png" alt="Dupree photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dupree photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack that sent a woman to the hospital.Just before 6:30 pm, Sept. 7, police were dispatched to a stabbing in the 1300 block of South Broadway in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp; First responders located a 42-year-old woman with non-life-threatening injuries to her back torso area. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.The investigation revealed that an altercation between the victim and&nbsp;43-year-old Mareo Dupree of Wichita led to the stabbingPolice arrested Dupree on a requested charges of aggravated battery. He <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=23689">is being held on a $100,000 bond</a>, according to online jail records.This is not a random incident and Dupree and the victim are believed to be known to each other, according to Ditch. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.

Police: Kansas woman hospitalized after stabbing 

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/09/johnson-county-sheriff-threatens-to-deploy-army-of-deputies-against-irs-agents/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Johnson County Sheriff 
Calvin Hayden said a federal law allowing the Internal Revenue Service 
to add 87,000 employees posed a threat to people in Kansas’ most 
populous county and could require deployment of deputies to repel tax 
investigators.

Hayden, who described the IRS as a “spooky, spooky entity,” generated
 applause from a group of about 30 people during a two-hour open meeting
 at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department headquarters with a promise 
to protect their homes as if they were castles.

The sheriff, who is leading a criminal investigation into alleged 
election fraud in the 2020 elections, said the IRS problem resulted from
 the Inflation Reduction Act approved by Congress and signed by 
President Joe Biden. The law earmarked $45 billion for enforcement 
activities over the next decade to help close the gap between what 
Americans owed in federal taxes and what they paid.

“That’s why it’s important for us to have an army that you can depend
 on,” said Hayden, referring to department’s 500 employees. “Because, I 
will tell you, they’re going to have to have every IRS agent in the 
United States come to Johnson County, Kansas, before they start doing 
the crap they’re doing. We’re going to be 500 strong, and we’ll do what 
we need to do.”

Hayden said he had authority to order the FBI to leave Johnson 
County, but he claimed to have less control over the IRS. He asserted 
IRS agents could enter homes of U.S. residents without a warrant.

The sheriff spoke to the group Aug. 30. Video of the gathering was posted to the online platform Rumble.

Hayden said he had welcomed the opportunity to order 100 deputies to 
cities in Johnson County as well as Kansas City, Missouri, and Lawrence 
in response to “mutual aid” requests related to street protests. He said
 he found the picketing so irritating it left him with “Formica under my
 fingernails.”

In Lawrence, the sheriff said he wanted “nothing more than go down 
Mass. Street and arrest them all.” He was prepared to make arrests in 
Prairie Village if protesters did so much as “break a pencil.”

Hayden said he wasn’t afraid his approach to law enforcement could 
make him target of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.

He said future elections in Kansas would likely foster social unrest.
 That possibility, Hayden claimed, ought to compel the Johnson County 
Commission to approve funding to add dozens of deputies to the 
department’s payroll. He said he would file a lawsuit against the 
commission if members didn’t approve his budget request to hire a 
minimum of 20 deputies.

The sheriff offered a pre-emptive warning to protesters: “You’re not going to hurt one twig in Johnson County.”

Hayden said his investigation of possible election fraud remained 
open in Johnson County despite pressure from public officials to wrap up
 the inquiry. He said the work was essential because neither Secretary 
of State Scott Schwab nor Attorney General Derek Schmidt were committed 
to investigating election misconduct.

Schwab and Schmidt have repeatedly expressed confidence in security 
of Kansas elections and integrity of voting results. Schwab, the state’s
 chief elections officer, said counts from the Aug. 2 primary election 
demonstrated accuracy of the 105-county system. Both Republican elected 
officials have said they were willing to consider amendments to state 
law that promoted public confidence in Kansas elections.

“I think they’re afraid,” Hayden said. “So, my county, my crime. 
People are railing at me for even looking at it. I don’t care. It’s 
important.”

He said the criminal investigation forced Johnson County election 
officials to preserve voting records that otherwise might be destroyed. 
He told the group during the taped meeting that he couldn’t delve into 
“all the secret stuff we’ve been doing” to build a case, but confided he
 was struggling to establish probable cause to justify search warrants 
that might help him gain traction.

“We’ve got tons of reasonable suspicion. I mean, tons of it. But I’ve
 got to have probable cause for a search warrant, to swear that I know a
 crime has been committed,” the sheriff said. “You’ve got to have a bad 
guy. We have to have a bad guy.”

Hayden said the investigation was hampered by an inability to 
identify people who could move beyond conjecture or theory about how 
fraud was allegedly perpetrated in Johnson County. In addition, he said,
 building a case could be undermined if the corruption was traced to 
China because he couldn’t arrest operatives overseas.

The sheriff said he was convinced evidence would surface Johnson 
County was among about 60 counties nationwide that worked with 
“nefarious” companies or groups that conspired to undermine election 
security. He was most concerned about security of electronic voting 
machines.

“I’m not sure that they have gotten into our machines. I can’t prove it,” Hayden said.

He expressed gratitude to community volunteers who served as 
observers in recent elections in Johnson County. During the meeting, he 
was asked whether a poll worker could legally take photographs of 
suspicious election documents that might be useful to the sheriff’s 
fraud investigation.

“Be slippery about it,” the sheriff said, “if you do it.” He 
cautioned that county election officials would get “touchy, crazy if 
they see you doing it.”

Hayden said he assigned deputies to observe ballot drop boxes in 
Johnson County ahead of the August primary election and predicted the 
2023 Legislature would ban use of the ballot deposit boxes in Kansas.

He said state lawmakers could go as far as prohibiting use of voting 
machines, leaving the state to count paper ballots by hand. The sheriff 
complained about lack of the “chain of custody” of ballots moved from 
polling locations to county offices for counting. He also said penalties
 for violating state election laws were lame.

Hayden, who began his Kansas law enforcement career in 1981, said he 
supported a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution on ballots in 
November that would block counties from abandoning the practice of 
electing sheriffs.

“The politicians want to get rid of the sheriff’s position,” Hayden said, “because we’re in the way.”

If the amendment received a majority of those voting Nov. 8, it would
 alter the state Constitution to require election of county sheriffs in 
counties that hadn’t abolished the office before January 2022. Rejection
 of the amendment would enable counties to continue electing sheriffs or
 adopt an alternative model whereby the county’s chief law officer was 
appointed. Riley County is the lone county that appoints that officer.

Hayden objected to the idea raised last year by Johnson County 
Commissioner Janee Hanzlick and others who preferred appointment of the 
county’s sheriff. Hanzlick said she’d fielded complaints about Hayden’s 
extreme partisanship.

“We’ve got an answer for her, and that’s called the constitutional sheriff’s amendment in November. Just vote yes,” Hayden said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662834404561.png" alt="Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, shown here during a June speech about election fraud, said he was prepared to deploy deputies to thwart zealous IRS agents and was struggling to find probable cause to issue warrants that might help him build an election fraud case in the county. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, shown here during a June speech about election fraud, said he was prepared to deploy deputies to thwart zealous IRS agents and was struggling to find probable cause to issue warrants that might help him build an election fraud case in the county. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/09/johnson-county-sheriff-threatens-to-deploy-army-of-deputies-against-irs-agents/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Johnson County Sheriff 
Calvin Hayden said a federal law allowing the Internal Revenue Service 
to add 87,000 employees posed a threat to people in Kansas’ most 
populous county and could require deployment of deputies to repel tax 
investigators.Hayden, who described the IRS as a “spooky, spooky entity,” generated
 applause from a group of about 30 people during a two-hour open meeting
 at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department headquarters with a promise 
to protect their homes as if they were castles.The sheriff, who is leading a criminal investigation into alleged 
election fraud in the 2020 elections, said the IRS problem resulted from
 the Inflation Reduction Act approved by Congress and signed by 
President Joe Biden. The law earmarked $45 billion for enforcement 
activities over the next decade to help close the gap between what 
Americans owed in federal taxes and what they paid.“That’s why it’s important for us to have an army that you can depend
 on,” said Hayden, referring to department’s 500 employees. “Because, I 
will tell you, they’re going to have to have every IRS agent in the 
United States come to Johnson County, Kansas, before they start doing 
the crap they’re doing. We’re going to be 500 strong, and we’ll do what 
we need to do.”Hayden said he had authority to order the FBI to leave Johnson 
County, but he claimed to have less control over the IRS. He asserted 
IRS agents could enter homes of U.S. residents without a warrant.The sheriff spoke to the group Aug. 30. Video of the gathering was posted to the online platform Rumble.<h2>‘Arrest them all’</h2>Hayden said he had welcomed the opportunity to order 100 deputies to 
cities in Johnson County as well as Kansas City, Missouri, and Lawrence 
in response to “mutual aid” requests related to street protests. He said
 he found the picketing so irritating it left him with “Formica under my
 fingernails.”In Lawrence, the sheriff said he wanted “nothing more than go down 
Mass. Street and arrest them all.” He was prepared to make arrests in 
Prairie Village if protesters did so much as “break a pencil.”Hayden said he wasn’t afraid his approach to law enforcement could 
make him target of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.He said future elections in Kansas would likely foster social unrest.
 That possibility, Hayden claimed, ought to compel the Johnson County 
Commission to approve funding to add dozens of deputies to the 
department’s payroll. He said he would file a lawsuit against the 
commission if members didn’t approve his budget request to hire a 
minimum of 20 deputies.The sheriff offered a pre-emptive warning to protesters: “You’re not going to hurt one twig in Johnson County.”<h2>Election fraud?</h2>Hayden said his investigation of possible election fraud remained 
open in Johnson County despite pressure from public officials to wrap up
 the inquiry. He said the work was essential because neither Secretary 
of State Scott Schwab nor Attorney General Derek Schmidt were committed 
to investigating election misconduct.Schwab and Schmidt have repeatedly expressed confidence in security 
of Kansas elections and integrity of voting results. Schwab, the state’s
 chief elections officer, said counts from the Aug. 2 primary election 
demonstrated accuracy of the 105-county system. Both Republican elected 
officials have said they were willing to consider amendments to state 
law that promoted public confidence in Kansas elections.“I think they’re afraid,” Hayden said. “So, my county, my crime. 
People are railing at me for even looking at it. I don’t care. It’s 
important.”He said the criminal investigation forced Johnson County election 
officials to preserve voting records that otherwise might be destroyed. 
He told the group during the taped meeting that he couldn’t delve into 
“all the secret stuff we’ve been doing” to build a case, but confided he
 was struggling to establish probable cause to justify search warrants 
that might help him gain traction.“We’ve got tons of reasonable suspicion. I mean, tons of it. But I’ve
 got to have probable cause for a search warrant, to swear that I know a
 crime has been committed,” the sheriff said. “You’ve got to have a bad 
guy. We have to have a bad guy.”Hayden said the investigation was hampered by an inability to 
identify people who could move beyond conjecture or theory about how 
fraud was allegedly perpetrated in Johnson County. In addition, he said,
 building a case could be undermined if the corruption was traced to 
China because he couldn’t arrest operatives overseas.<h2>‘I can’t prove it’</h2>The sheriff said he was convinced evidence would surface Johnson 
County was among about 60 counties nationwide that worked with 
“nefarious” companies or groups that conspired to undermine election 
security. He was most concerned about security of electronic voting 
machines.“I’m not sure that they have gotten into our machines. I can’t prove it,” Hayden said.He expressed gratitude to community volunteers who served as 
observers in recent elections in Johnson County. During the meeting, he 
was asked whether a poll worker could legally take photographs of 
suspicious election documents that might be useful to the sheriff’s 
fraud investigation.“Be slippery about it,” the sheriff said, “if you do it.” He 
cautioned that county election officials would get “touchy, crazy if 
they see you doing it.”Hayden said he assigned deputies to observe ballot drop boxes in 
Johnson County ahead of the August primary election and predicted the 
2023 Legislature would ban use of the ballot deposit boxes in Kansas.He said state lawmakers could go as far as prohibiting use of voting 
machines, leaving the state to count paper ballots by hand. The sheriff 
complained about lack of the “chain of custody” of ballots moved from 
polling locations to county offices for counting. He also said penalties
 for violating state election laws were lame.<h2>Constitutional amendment</h2>Hayden, who began his Kansas law enforcement career in 1981, said he 
supported a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution on ballots in 
November that would block counties from abandoning the practice of 
electing sheriffs.“The politicians want to get rid of the sheriff’s position,” Hayden said, “because we’re in the way.”If the amendment received a majority of those voting Nov. 8, it would
 alter the state Constitution to require election of county sheriffs in 
counties that hadn’t abolished the office before January 2022. Rejection
 of the amendment would enable counties to continue electing sheriffs or
 adopt an alternative model whereby the county’s chief law officer was 
appointed. Riley County is the lone county that appoints that officer.Hayden objected to the idea raised last year by Johnson County 
Commissioner Janee Hanzlick and others who preferred appointment of the 
county’s sheriff. Hanzlick said she’d fielded complaints about Hayden’s 
extreme partisanship.“We’ve got an answer for her, and that’s called the constitutional sheriff’s amendment in November. Just vote yes,” Hayden said.

Kan. sheriff threatens to deploy ‘army’ of deputies against IRS agents

JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas woman on drug allegations.

Just after 8:30a.m. Sept. 6, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Chrysler Town and Country mini-van on 150th near U.S. Highway 75 for an alleged registration infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The deputy discovered what was believed to be drug contraband which led to the arrest of the driver and passenger of the vehicle.

 The driver identified as Arasally Perez-Villa, 26, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license. 

The passenger, Kristy Eve Little-Bull-Noble, 35, of Topeka, was arrested on on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662547756062.png" alt="Little-Bull-Noble-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Little-Bull-Noble-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just after 8:30a.m. Sept. 6, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Chrysler Town and Country mini-van on 150th near U.S. Highway 75 for an alleged registration infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The deputy discovered what was believed to be drug contraband which led to the arrest of the driver and passenger of the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662547663413.png" alt="Perez-Vila-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Perez-Vila-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> The driver identified as Arasally Perez-Villa, 26, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license. The passenger, Kristy Eve Little-Bull-Noble, 35, of Topeka, was arrested on on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: 2 Kansas women accused of transporting meth

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a 2016 aggravated assault have made an arrest.

On Thursday after being transported from the Denver County jail in Denver, Colorado, police arrest 33-year-old&nbsp;Francis Jackson, 33, of Denver on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated assault. 

The arrest stems from a January 1, 2016 incident where it was reported Jackson tried to stab a 36-year-old man with a knife in the alley behind O'Malley's bar in Aggieville around 2:00 a.m. 

No injuries were reported. Jackson remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a total bond of $10,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a 2016 aggravated assault have made an arrest.On Thursday after being transported from the Denver County jail in Denver, Colorado, police arrest 33-year-old&nbsp;Francis Jackson, 33, of Denver on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated assault. The arrest stems from a January 1, 2016 incident where it was reported Jackson tried to stab a 36-year-old man with a knife in the alley behind O'Malley's bar in Aggieville around 2:00 a.m. No injuries were reported. Jackson remains confined in the Riley County Jail on a total bond of $10,000.

Colorado man jailed for alleged 2016 knife attack in Aggieville

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 7:30 am, police were dispatched to a Wichita hospital for a Sexual Assault report. A 58-year-old victim reported being sexually assaulted by 61-year-old Darryl Ford at a home in the 900 block of West Maple in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

After an investigation, police arrested&nbsp;Ford of Wichita on requested charges of Rape, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy,

This is not a random incident. Ford and the victim are believed to be known to each other, according to Ditch. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662728996946.png" alt="Ford-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ford-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent sexual assault and have a suspect in custody.Just after 7:30 am, police were dispatched to a Wichita hospital for a Sexual Assault report. A 58-year-old victim reported being sexually assaulted by 61-year-old Darryl Ford at a home in the 900 block of West Maple in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.After an investigation, police arrested&nbsp;Ford of Wichita on requested charges of Rape, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy,This is not a random incident. Ford and the victim are believed to be known to each other, according to Ditch. The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office.

Police arrest Kansas man for alleged rape, kidnapping

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a bomb threat at the Kansas State Capitol and have made an arrest.

This week, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information of a threat made to the Kansas State Capitol through a social media platform, according to a media release.

The individual made a post about “bombing” the Capitol. The Capitol building was evacuated and bomb detection K9s were utilized to clear the building. 

No threats were found on the premises. Investigators discovered that the social media post was made by a 13-year-old residing in Shawnee County. 

The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Juvenile Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony aggravated criminal threat. 

The sheriff office reminded the public, "Law enforcement takes threats to the safety of our citizens and community very seriously. Please talk with your children and loved ones about the consequences associated with this type of conduct."

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a bomb threat at the Kansas State Capitol and have made an arrest.This week, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information of a threat made to the Kansas State Capitol through a social media platform, according to a media release.The individual made a post about “bombing” the Capitol. The Capitol building was evacuated and bomb detection K9s were utilized to clear the building. No threats were found on the premises. Investigators discovered that the social media post was made by a 13-year-old residing in Shawnee County. The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Juvenile Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony aggravated criminal threat. The sheriff office reminded the public, "Law enforcement takes threats to the safety of our citizens and community very seriously. Please talk with your children and loved ones about the consequences associated with this type of conduct."

Sheriff: 13-year-old accused of bomb threat at Kansas Capitol 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark pleaded no contest in Los Angeles on Thursday to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon and was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service.

Clark is due back in court early next year, when he will need to show proof that he completed his sentence.

The three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was arrested in March 2021, when he was pulled over while riding with another man in a vehicle that did not have a license plate. An officer noticed a weapon in the car and recovered two loaded firearms.

Three months later, Clark was pulled over for a code violation and officers discovered another gun in his vehicle.

Clark, who did not practice Thursday because of an illness, spent the offseason rededicating himself to the game, going so far as to eliminate alcohol and red meat from his diet. He arrived at training camp noticeably slimmer, and during one news conference, he admitted that “at some point you have to grow up" and be an example for your kids.

The 29-year-old Clark is coming off a disappointing season in which he had 4 1/2 sacks, his lowest total since his rookie season. He has 88 tackles and 18 1/2 sacks during 40 regular-season games in Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624317438496.png" alt="-Image LA County Sheriff's Department" />
 <figcaption>-Image LA County Sheriff's Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark pleaded no contest in Los Angeles on Thursday to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon and was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624317639857.png" alt="Frank Clark. photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Frank Clark. photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>Clark is due back in court early next year, when he will need to show proof that he completed his sentence.The three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was arrested in March 2021, when he was pulled over while riding with another man in a vehicle that did not have a license plate. An officer noticed a weapon in the car and recovered two loaded firearms.Three months later, Clark was pulled over for a code violation and officers discovered another gun in his vehicle.Clark, who did not practice Thursday because of an illness, spent the offseason rededicating himself to the game, going so far as to eliminate alcohol and red meat from his diet. He arrived at training camp noticeably slimmer, and during one news conference, he admitted that “at some point you have to grow up" and be an example for your kids.The 29-year-old Clark is coming off a disappointing season in which he had 4 1/2 sacks, his lowest total since his rookie season. He has 88 tackles and 18 1/2 sacks during 40 regular-season games in Kansas City.

Chiefs' Clark pleads no contest to Los Angeles gun charges

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Butler County have made an arrest.

Just before 3:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of&nbsp; shooting in the 1100 block of Bobbie in Augusta, according to a media release.

Police found a man with a gunshot wound to his back and another man identified as a 32-year-old Joseph Carlson in possession of a gun.&nbsp; Police arrested him on requested charges of&nbsp;aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

EMS transported the 29-year-old victim to a Wichita hospital.

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Butler County.

Police found a man with a gunshot wound to his back and another man identified as a suspect.

Investigators&nbsp; learned an argument led to the fight during which shots were fired. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662714494946.png" alt="Carlson -photo Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>Carlson -photo Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Butler County have made an arrest.Just before 3:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of&nbsp; shooting in the 1100 block of Bobbie in Augusta, according to a media release.Police found a man with a gunshot wound to his back and another man identified as a 32-year-old Joseph Carlson in possession of a gun.&nbsp; Police arrested him on requested charges of&nbsp;aggravated assault and aggravated battery.EMS transported the 29-year-old victim to a Wichita hospital.----------------BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Butler County.Just before 3:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of&nbsp; shooting in the 1100 block of Bobbie in Augusta, according to a media release.Police found a man with a gunshot wound to his back and another man identified as a suspect.Investigators&nbsp; learned an argument led to the fight during which shots were fired. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police arrest Kansas man after argument led to shooting 

&nbsp;By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/07/kansas-lawmakers-award-50000-in-wrongful-conviction-case-involving-knife-possession-1/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and 
legislators on a bipartisan state council reviewed without objection a 
$50,000 settlement for wrongful conviction of a Wichita man sentenced to
 prison for possession of a nine-inch folding knife the district court 
concluded met the legal definition of a weapon.

The State Finance Council, which includes top leadership of the 
Senate and House, also voted to approve settlements Tuesday of two other
 legal conflicts. Information about the amount of tax dollars used to 
settle those claims and details of what prompted the claims weren’t 
disclosed by council members.

In the wrongful conviction case, Larry L. Lucas was stopped in 2018 
by a Wichita police officer for a traffic infraction. He was arrested on
 an outstanding bench warrant. Officers found a folding knife in his 
truck. Due to a 2010 drug conviction, Lucas was charged with criminal 
possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Lucas was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. His conviction on the 
knife charge in Sedgwick County District Court was upheld by the Kansas 
Court of Appeals, but the attorney general’s office said those rulings 
were nullified by the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court 
ruled the 2014 state law applicable to the knife case was too vague to 
be applied.

Lucas, who had been convicted of three dozen misdemeanor and felony 
crimes, was released from prison in 2020 and filed the claim for 
wrongful conviction.

He was initially awarded $100,000 by a district court judge in 
Wichita for time served and attorney fees. The state’s plan to challenge
 his right to any compensation for wrongful conviction led to 
negotiations with Lucas and the $50,000 settlement.

The State Finance Council, which is chaired by the governor and 
includes top Republican and Democratic members of the Legislature, 
reviewed the settlement during a meeting at the Kansas Capitol.

The council also voted to endorse financial settlement of a sex 
harassment, gender-based discrimination and retaliation complaint 
brought in federal court by a former female officer at Hutchinson 
Correctional Facility against male administrators of the prison. The 
plaintiff sued Warden Dan Schnurr, Major Clay VanHoose and Tommy 
Williams, who was Hutchinson’s deputy warden before promoted this year 
to warden at El Dorado Correctional Facility.

Erin Peppiatt, who was a captain at the Hutchinson prison before 
fired in 2020 by the Kansas Department of Corrections, sought relief in 
U.S. District Court. Court documents indicate the corrections department
 said Peppiatt engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a male 
subordinate, but Peppiatt asserted in the suit male corrections officers
 were allowed to fraternize with female subordinates without 
consequence.

In addition, court records show, Peppiatt testified that “every time 
she spoke with defendant (deputy warden) Williams in his office, he 
would stare at plaintiff’s breasts with his hand between his legs 
rubbing his groin.”

U.S. District Court Judge John Lungstrum issued an opinion related to
 a request for summary judgment by declaring: “A jury could reasonably 
find that such overtly sexual and offensive conduct by her supervisor 
could deter future discussions and thus would have affected plaintiff’s 
ability to do her job.”

In terms of retaliation, Peppiatt alleged two male employees at the 
Hutchinson prison were reprimanded for dressing a CPR dummy in a wig 
made from a mop and a female officer’s vest to mock her claim of 
discrimination at the prison.

The State Finance Council also settled without comment the case of Michael Williams for an undisclosed amount.

The council discussed the Williams and Peppiatt cases in executive 
session with representatives of Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office.

Council members voted in open session to approve both of the proposed
 settlements, but didn’t discuss the dollar amounts to be paid nor 
details of what sparked those claims against the state. Audio of the 
public portion of the council’s meeting at the Capitol was so muddled it
 was impossible to determine which lawmakers voted for the settlements. 
The governor said the votes on both were 7-0 with two members 
abstaining.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662586450262.png" alt="hon Qualseth and Dennis Depew, attorneys with the office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, prepare to explain in executive session reasons for settling two claims against the state, including a case of sexual harassment at Hutchinson Correctional Facility. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>hon Qualseth and Dennis Depew, attorneys with the office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, prepare to explain in executive session reasons for settling two claims against the state, including a case of sexual harassment at Hutchinson Correctional Facility. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/07/kansas-lawmakers-award-50000-in-wrongful-conviction-case-involving-knife-possession-1/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and 
legislators on a bipartisan state council reviewed without objection a 
$50,000 settlement for wrongful conviction of a Wichita man sentenced to
 prison for possession of a nine-inch folding knife the district court 
concluded met the legal definition of a weapon.The State Finance Council, which includes top leadership of the 
Senate and House, also voted to approve settlements Tuesday of two other
 legal conflicts. Information about the amount of tax dollars used to 
settle those claims and details of what prompted the claims weren’t 
disclosed by council members.In the wrongful conviction case, Larry L. Lucas was stopped in 2018 
by a Wichita police officer for a traffic infraction. He was arrested on
 an outstanding bench warrant. Officers found a folding knife in his 
truck. Due to a 2010 drug conviction, Lucas was charged with criminal 
possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.Lucas was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. His conviction on the 
knife charge in Sedgwick County District Court was upheld by the Kansas 
Court of Appeals, but the attorney general’s office said those rulings 
were nullified by the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court 
ruled the 2014 state law applicable to the knife case was too vague to 
be applied.Lucas, who had been convicted of three dozen misdemeanor and felony 
crimes, was released from prison in 2020 and filed the claim for 
wrongful conviction.He was initially awarded $100,000 by a district court judge in 
Wichita for time served and attorney fees. The state’s plan to challenge
 his right to any compensation for wrongful conviction led to 
negotiations with Lucas and the $50,000 settlement.The State Finance Council, which is chaired by the governor and 
includes top Republican and Democratic members of the Legislature, 
reviewed the settlement during a meeting at the Kansas Capitol.The council also voted to endorse financial settlement of a sex 
harassment, gender-based discrimination and retaliation complaint 
brought in federal court by a former female officer at Hutchinson 
Correctional Facility against male administrators of the prison. The 
plaintiff sued Warden Dan Schnurr, Major Clay VanHoose and Tommy 
Williams, who was Hutchinson’s deputy warden before promoted this year 
to warden at El Dorado Correctional Facility.Erin Peppiatt, who was a captain at the Hutchinson prison before 
fired in 2020 by the Kansas Department of Corrections, sought relief in 
U.S. District Court. Court documents indicate the corrections department
 said Peppiatt engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a male 
subordinate, but Peppiatt asserted in the suit male corrections officers
 were allowed to fraternize with female subordinates without 
consequence.In addition, court records show, Peppiatt testified that “every time 
she spoke with defendant (deputy warden) Williams in his office, he 
would stare at plaintiff’s breasts with his hand between his legs 
rubbing his groin.”U.S. District Court Judge John Lungstrum issued an opinion related to
 a request for summary judgment by declaring: “A jury could reasonably 
find that such overtly sexual and offensive conduct by her supervisor 
could deter future discussions and thus would have affected plaintiff’s 
ability to do her job.”In terms of retaliation, Peppiatt alleged two male employees at the 
Hutchinson prison were reprimanded for dressing a CPR dummy in a wig 
made from a mop and a female officer’s vest to mock her claim of 
discrimination at the prison.The State Finance Council also settled without comment the case of Michael Williams for an undisclosed amount.The council discussed the Williams and Peppiatt cases in executive 
session with representatives of Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office.Council members voted in open session to approve both of the proposed
 settlements, but didn’t discuss the dollar amounts to be paid nor 
details of what sparked those claims against the state. Audio of the 
public portion of the council’s meeting at the Capitol was so muddled it
 was impossible to determine which lawmakers voted for the settlements. 
The governor said the votes on both were 7-0 with two members 
abstaining.

Kansas lawmakers award $50,000 in wrongful conviction case

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

On Wednesday afternoon, officers from the Riley County Police Department responded to a report of a runaway student at the Manhattan High School west campus.

School resource officers as well as officers from outside the school attempted to make contact with the student, the student ran from officers.&nbsp;

When officers made contact with the student, they bit one of the officers, and during the struggle, magazines fell off one of the officers.&nbsp;

The student was then arrested. The Riley County Police Department will release more details on Thursday.

In an email to parents on Wednesday evening, Manhattan High School principal, Michael Dorst, notified parents of the incident involving RCPD at the Manhattan High School west campus.

Prinicpal Dorst's email can be found below.

This is a developing story and additional details will be added as they become available.

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple PostOn Wednesday afternoon, officers from the Riley County Police Department responded to a report of a runaway student at the Manhattan High School west campus.School resource officers as well as officers from outside the school attempted to make contact with the student, the student ran from officers.&nbsp;When officers made contact with the student, they bit one of the officers, and during the struggle, magazines fell off one of the officers.&nbsp;The student was then arrested. The Riley County Police Department will release more details on Thursday.In an email to parents on Wednesday evening, Manhattan High School principal, Michael Dorst, notified parents of the incident involving RCPD at the Manhattan High School west campus.Prinicpal Dorst's email can be found below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662598472612.jpeg" alt="Email from USD 383 regarding incident with RCPD at MHS" />
 <figcaption>Email from USD 383 regarding incident with RCPD at MHS</figcaption>
 </figure>This is a developing story and additional details will be added as they become available.

RCPD responds to report of attempted runaway student at MHS, email sent to all parents regarding incident

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged violent crime.

On Tuesday, police arrested 22-year-old&nbsp;Savannah G. Martin of St. Joseph, on a District Court warrant on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Martin had a previous drug conviction in 2018 for marijuana distribution, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. She was released from prison in March of 2020. She is no longer in custody in Atchison County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662561624544.png" alt="Martin had a previous drug distribution conviction in 2018, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Martin had a previous drug distribution conviction in 2018, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon for an alleged violent crime.On Tuesday, police arrested 22-year-old&nbsp;Savannah G. Martin of St. Joseph, on a District Court warrant on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Martin had a previous drug conviction in 2018 for marijuana distribution, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. She was released from prison in March of 2020. She is no longer in custody in Atchison County.

Kansas felon jailed for alleged domestic battery

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/07/summoning-inspiration-from-solitary-kansas-native-wins-pen-america-prison-writing-award/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Alex Tretbar scratched Lou Reed lyrics into the concrete 
“rhomboid exoskeleton” of an Oregon jail’s solitary confinement hole, 
then found the strength to write about it.

“Some people work very hard,” the song goes, “but still they never get it right.”

Tretbar, a Wichita native and University of Kansas graduate, 
references the experience in “Variations on an Undisclosed Location,” a 
poem he wrote while incarcerated for five years for his role in a 
drug-related shooting. PEN America announced Wednesday that Tretbar’s 
poem was a first-place winner in the organization’s annual prison 
writing contest.

The award is a testament to Tretbar’s ability to reconcile his battle
 with opioid addiction through the “self-psychotherapy” of writing. He 
now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, after being paroled in July.

“I was like, OK, there’s not really much left for me to do other than
 try to improve myself and get clean, and writing was just — it wasn’t 
really like a choice. It was just what I do,” Tretbar said.

He said the poem is about working out the effects of segregation on 
the personality, how time is perceived, and grappling with addiction and
 suffering and racism.

PEN America champions literary art and free expression through its <a target="_blank" href="https://pen.org/prison-writing/">Prison and Justice Writing program</a>.
 The organization’s annual awards spotlight writers “who are critically 
reshaping the conversation on mass incarceration, advocacy, and justice 
in the United States.”

Robert Pollock, manager of the Prison Writing Program, said this 
year’s anthology of winners takes its name from Tretbar’s poem because 
it “resonated with us so deeply.”

The way Tretbar sees it, prison saved his life.

Tretbar grew up in Wichita and graduated in 2012 from KU with degrees
 in English and journalism. He said he was involved in the Lawrence 
music scene, where he played bass guitar and managed the college radio 
station. He also developed an addiction to oxycodone and other opioids 
while in school.

“I wasn’t necessarily like this reclusive drug addict,” he said. “To a
 certain extent, I was a functional addict when I was in school. And 
that ended up not being tenable after I graduated.”

When it became difficult to find pharmaceuticals, Tretbar started 
using heroin. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue music and journalism — 
“just running and not really thinking straight” — and washed up in a 
hostel in Venice Beach, trying to get clean. Then it was on to Portland,
 Oregon, with a woman he met in L.A.

He worked at a law firm for a while, ghostwriting recommendation 
letters for immigrants who were trying to get green cards. He was on 
methadone and still chained to opioids. In 2016, he started using again 
and lived on the streets for Portland for about a year.

That’s when he made a “horrible mistake.”

Tretbar and a drug dealer went to settle a debt, which led to 
gunfire. Luckily, no one died. Tretbar fled the scene instead of calling
 911 or attending to the victim. He was charged with first-degree 
attempted robbery.

“Sometimes it doesn’t really seem like me, looking back on it, but it
 definitely was me,” Tretbar said. “I take responsibility for it.”

In the years that followed, “I’ve tried to live my life in a way that
 would honor not only the victim, but my family and friends who also 
suffered while I was in prison for my absence, and also to honor myself 
and honor the life that I should have been living all along.”

Tretbar said he worked as a librarian and GED tutor at Deer Ridge 
Correctional Institution, where he met several mentors from Oregon State
 University who helped him work on his writing. In 2021, he won 
second-place PEN awards for poetry and fiction writing.

This year’s award-winning poem evolved from a prompt with his mentors. It begins:

wasn’t. All of the other &amp; inward 
voices came out: my neighbor 
summoned summer with his absent eye

of a lost-in-basement cricket. I carved Lou 
Reed lyrics into my concrete rhomboid 
exoskeleton. I found a letter toothpasted 
to the ceiling claiming

The lyrics were from the Velvet Underground song “Beginning to See the Light.”

Tretbar said he draws inspiration from the music of the Velvet 
Underground, the Stooges and “krautrock” artists. His writing influences
 include Topeka natives Ben Lerner and Michael Robbins.

He is now working remotely for an old friend at a political 
consulting agency in Omaha and searching for post-November writing work.
 He hopes to attend graduate school and work as a GTA next year.

Tretbar said he never thought about prison or mass incarceration until he was arrested.

“Five years was the right amount of time to get sober and get my head
 straight, and so I have a complicated relationship with prison, because
 I’m grateful for it,” he said. “Sure, I hate and despite many aspects 
of incarceration — the mindless bureaucracy and the dehumanization and 
all of that. But for some people, it works.”

Tretbar said his first impressions about people “have almost always 
been wrong.” Similarly, other people have the wrong idea about prison.

“I struggle with coming up with a single sentence that says, ‘This is
 how you should feel about prison.’ But I would say don’t make up your 
mind too readily about the kind of person that goes to prison and the 
kind of person that gets out of prison, because every single one of them
 is different,” Tretbar said.

I seek — sought — asylum 
in silos, syringes, 
sickness for the sake 
of getting well again.

I am a word, of or relating to 
what tries to turn around but can’t 
stop turning, dizzy dervish.

I demand the panopticon crown 
my oatmeal with an orchid.

— from “Variations on an Undisclosed Location”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662569568578.png" alt="Kansas native Alex Tretbar won the PEN America first-place award for poetry writing in this year’s prison writing contest for his “Variations on an Undisclosed Location.” (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas native Alex Tretbar won the PEN America first-place award for poetry writing in this year’s prison writing contest for his “Variations on an Undisclosed Location.” (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/07/summoning-inspiration-from-solitary-kansas-native-wins-pen-america-prison-writing-award/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Alex Tretbar scratched Lou Reed lyrics into the concrete 
“rhomboid exoskeleton” of an Oregon jail’s solitary confinement hole, 
then found the strength to write about it.“Some people work very hard,” the song goes, “but still they never get it right.”Tretbar, a Wichita native and University of Kansas graduate, 
references the experience in “Variations on an Undisclosed Location,” a 
poem he wrote while incarcerated for five years for his role in a 
drug-related shooting. PEN America announced Wednesday that Tretbar’s 
poem was a first-place winner in the organization’s annual prison 
writing contest.The award is a testament to Tretbar’s ability to reconcile his battle
 with opioid addiction through the “self-psychotherapy” of writing. He 
now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, after being paroled in July.“I was like, OK, there’s not really much left for me to do other than
 try to improve myself and get clean, and writing was just — it wasn’t 
really like a choice. It was just what I do,” Tretbar said.He said the poem is about working out the effects of segregation on 
the personality, how time is perceived, and grappling with addiction and
 suffering and racism.“It kind of goes all over,” he said.PEN America champions literary art and free expression through its <a target="_blank" href="https://pen.org/prison-writing/">Prison and Justice Writing program</a>.
 The organization’s annual awards spotlight writers “who are critically 
reshaping the conversation on mass incarceration, advocacy, and justice 
in the United States.”Robert Pollock, manager of the Prison Writing Program, said this 
year’s anthology of winners takes its name from Tretbar’s poem because 
it “resonated with us so deeply.”The way Tretbar sees it, prison saved his life.Tretbar grew up in Wichita and graduated in 2012 from KU with degrees
 in English and journalism. He said he was involved in the Lawrence 
music scene, where he played bass guitar and managed the college radio 
station. He also developed an addiction to oxycodone and other opioids 
while in school.“I wasn’t necessarily like this reclusive drug addict,” he said. “To a
 certain extent, I was a functional addict when I was in school. And 
that ended up not being tenable after I graduated.”When it became difficult to find pharmaceuticals, Tretbar started 
using heroin. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue music and journalism — 
“just running and not really thinking straight” — and washed up in a 
hostel in Venice Beach, trying to get clean. Then it was on to Portland,
 Oregon, with a woman he met in L.A.He worked at a law firm for a while, ghostwriting recommendation 
letters for immigrants who were trying to get green cards. He was on 
methadone and still chained to opioids. In 2016, he started using again 
and lived on the streets for Portland for about a year.That’s when he made a “horrible mistake.”Tretbar and a drug dealer went to settle a debt, which led to 
gunfire. Luckily, no one died. Tretbar fled the scene instead of calling
 911 or attending to the victim. He was charged with first-degree 
attempted robbery.“Sometimes it doesn’t really seem like me, looking back on it, but it
 definitely was me,” Tretbar said. “I take responsibility for it.”In the years that followed, “I’ve tried to live my life in a way that
 would honor not only the victim, but my family and friends who also 
suffered while I was in prison for my absence, and also to honor myself 
and honor the life that I should have been living all along.”Tretbar said he worked as a librarian and GED tutor at Deer Ridge 
Correctional Institution, where he met several mentors from Oregon State
 University who helped him work on his writing. In 2021, he won 
second-place PEN awards for poetry and fiction writing.This year’s award-winning poem evolved from a prompt with his mentors. It begins:Solitarywasn’t. All of the other &amp; inward 
voices came out: my neighbor 
summoned summer with his absent eye-tooth: perfect mimicof a lost-in-basement cricket. I carved Lou 
Reed lyrics into my concrete rhomboid 
exoskeleton. I found a letter toothpasted 
to the ceiling claimingI had written it.The lyrics were from the Velvet Underground song “Beginning to See the Light.”Tretbar said he draws inspiration from the music of the Velvet 
Underground, the Stooges and “krautrock” artists. His writing influences
 include Topeka natives Ben Lerner and Michael Robbins.He is now working remotely for an old friend at a political 
consulting agency in Omaha and searching for post-November writing work.
 He hopes to attend graduate school and work as a GTA next year.Tretbar said he never thought about prison or mass incarceration until he was arrested.“Five years was the right amount of time to get sober and get my head
 straight, and so I have a complicated relationship with prison, because
 I’m grateful for it,” he said. “Sure, I hate and despite many aspects 
of incarceration — the mindless bureaucracy and the dehumanization and 
all of that. But for some people, it works.”Tretbar said his first impressions about people “have almost always 
been wrong.” Similarly, other people have the wrong idea about prison.“I struggle with coming up with a single sentence that says, ‘This is
 how you should feel about prison.’ But I would say don’t make up your 
mind too readily about the kind of person that goes to prison and the 
kind of person that gets out of prison, because every single one of them
 is different,” Tretbar said.I seek — sought — asylum 
in silos, syringes, 
sickness for the sake 
of getting well again.I am a word, of or relating to 
what tries to turn around but can’t 
stop turning, dizzy dervish.I demand the panopticon crown 
my oatmeal with an orchid.— from “Variations on an Undisclosed Location”

Inspiration from solitary: Kan. native wins prison writing award

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman was sentenced to prison on Friday for the hit-and-run killing of&nbsp; a man riding a bicycle in March of 2021.

Charity Blackmon, 32, Wichita, was sentenced&nbsp; to more than 46 years in prison, according to the Sedgwick Co. District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In March, she avoided a jury trial and pled guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

On March 26, 2021 police were dispatched to 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue in Wichita for a shooting call, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving, they located&nbsp;54-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/2blv6y22g0?qid=7f0e4807b16464f4303f8d95ed764ff1">Merrill Rabus of Wichita</a>&nbsp;unconscious and receiving life-saving measures.

Rabus had undetermined injuries, including what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The investigation revealed Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection of 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Blackmon.

Blackmon then got out of her vehicle and fired a shot from a handgun, striking Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th&nbsp;Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer/

Blackmon and Rabus were not known to each other. Officers also recovered a handgun through their investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616855135199.png" alt="Blackmon-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Blackmon-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman was sentenced to prison on Friday for the hit-and-run killing of&nbsp; a man riding a bicycle in March of 2021.Charity Blackmon, 32, Wichita, was sentenced&nbsp; to more than 46 years in prison, according to the Sedgwick Co. District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In March, she avoided a jury trial and pled guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616871807743.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On March 26, 2021 police were dispatched to 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue in Wichita for a shooting call, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving, they located&nbsp;54-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/2blv6y22g0?qid=7f0e4807b16464f4303f8d95ed764ff1">Merrill Rabus of Wichita</a>&nbsp;unconscious and receiving life-saving measures.Rabus had undetermined injuries, including what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.The investigation revealed Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection of 13th&nbsp;Street North and Oliver Avenue when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Blackmon.Blackmon then got out of her vehicle and fired a shot from a handgun, striking Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th&nbsp;Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer/Blackmon and Rabus were not known to each other. Officers also recovered a handgun through their investigation.&nbsp;

Kan. woman sentenced for running over, shooting bicyclist

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.

Just before 10p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's department K9 unit conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway, near Carbondale, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, the deputy discovered illegal narcotics.

The driver of the vehicle, Devin M. Hendrix, 25, of Topeka was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662501640977.png" alt="Hendrix-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Hendrix-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.Just before 10p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's department K9 unit conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway, near Carbondale, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, the deputy discovered illegal narcotics.The driver of the vehicle, Devin M. Hendrix, 25, of Topeka was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Kansas sheriff's K9 unit assists with drug arrest

BARTON COUNTY —After seven years, a Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday for a fatal shooting in Great Bend.

District Court Judge Carey Hipp sentenced 55-year-old Freddie Thomas to 59 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the 2015 murder of&nbsp; Jeremy Saldana.&nbsp; In June, a&nbsp;Barton County jury convicted Thomas of Voluntary Manslaughter.

On the evening of September 11, 2015, Thomas shot Jeremy Saldana three times with a Ruger SR9.

Thomas was arrested on scene and charged with First Degree Murder on September 16, 2015. Thomas was bound over for trial following the preliminary hearing on April 21, 2016.

On June 8, 2016, now-retired District Court Judge Ron Svaty granted Thomas immunity from prosecution and dismissed the State’s complaint. The State of Kansas filed an appeal.

On December 8, 2017 the Kansas Court of Appeals issued an unpublished opinion reversing the grant of immunity. The defendant then filed a petition for review with the Kansas Supreme Court. The Defendant’s petition for review was granted.

In July 2020, the Kansas Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals and sent the case back for a rehearing. In November 2020, District Court Judge Carey Hipp denied the defendant’s immunity request and set the matter for jury trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662553639398.png" alt="Thomas-from his original arrest in Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas-from his original arrest in Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —After seven years, a Kansas man was sentenced Tuesday for a fatal shooting in Great Bend.District Court Judge Carey Hipp sentenced 55-year-old Freddie Thomas to 59 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the 2015 murder of&nbsp; Jeremy Saldana.&nbsp; In June, a&nbsp;Barton County jury convicted Thomas of Voluntary Manslaughter.On the evening of September 11, 2015, Thomas shot Jeremy Saldana three times with a Ruger SR9.Thomas was arrested on scene and charged with First Degree Murder on September 16, 2015. Thomas was bound over for trial following the preliminary hearing on April 21, 2016.On June 8, 2016, now-retired District Court Judge Ron Svaty granted Thomas immunity from prosecution and dismissed the State’s complaint. The State of Kansas filed an appeal.On December 8, 2017 the Kansas Court of Appeals issued an unpublished opinion reversing the grant of immunity. The defendant then filed a petition for review with the Kansas Supreme Court. The Defendant’s petition for review was granted.In July 2020, the Kansas Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeals and sent the case back for a rehearing. In November 2020, District Court Judge Carey Hipp denied the defendant’s immunity request and set the matter for jury trial.

Kansas man sentenced for death of man in 2015

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.

Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, deputies were sent to a disturbance call for a shooting in the 4300 block of Wood Hollow, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, deputies were sent to a disturbance call for a shooting in the 4300 block of Wood Hollow, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office. Deputies located 19-year-old Jorianah R. Williams, of Wichita, suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported her&nbsp; to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries. She remains. hospitalized.The suspect, a 17-year-old&nbsp; black male of Wichita, was arrested at the residence and booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility on requested charges of aggravated battery and an outstanding warrant.&nbsp;The victim and suspect are in a romantic relationship, according to the sheriff's department. Detectives are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.