RENO COUNTY — Police arrested a man staying at a Hutchinson motel Sunday after he allegedly robbed a Papa John's delivery driver.

Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a 25-year-old female driver from Papa John's reported to the police that she had tried to deliver pizzas to a location in Hutchison that didn't exist, then was called to go to the parking lot at the Hampton Inn just east of 11th and K-61 to deliver the pizzas.

A man, later identified as 22-year-old Damien Daron Devine, flagged the delivery driver down, displayed a handgun and stole the pizzas and cash from her.

A search warrant was executed for Devine's car and motel room and evidence was found for grounds for an arrest. Police also found a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Police booked Devine into jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery and drug offenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651510799824.png" alt="Devine-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Devine-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — Police arrested a man staying at a Hutchinson motel Sunday after he allegedly robbed a Papa John's delivery driver.Just after 11:30p.m. Sunday, a 25-year-old female driver from Papa John's reported to the police that she had tried to deliver pizzas to a location in Hutchison that didn't exist, then was called to go to the parking lot at the Hampton Inn just east of 11th and K-61 to deliver the pizzas.A man, later identified as 22-year-old Damien Daron Devine, flagged the delivery driver down, displayed a handgun and stole the pizzas and cash from her.A search warrant was executed for Devine's car and motel room and evidence was found for grounds for an arrest. Police also found a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.Police booked Devine into jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery and drug offenses.

Police: Kan. man robbed pizza delivery driver at gunpoint

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of shooting a relative in the back yard of a home made his first court appearance Friday.

Phoukhong Khamvongsa, 62, Wichita, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

Just before 5:30p.m. April 25, deputies were sent to a disturbance call involving a weapon in the 4500 block of south Meadowview in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

When deputies arrived, they located a 55-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the backyard of a residence. 

EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.&nbsp; The suspect identified as 62-year-old Phoukhong Khamvongsa&nbsp; of Wichita, was arrested at the residence <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=142445">and booked </a>into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.

The victim and suspect are family members, according to Blick.

He is scheduled for another court appearance on May 9. He remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650989518111.png" alt="Khamvongsa-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Khamvongsa-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of shooting a relative in the back yard of a home made his first court appearance Friday.Phoukhong Khamvongsa, 62, Wichita, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.Just before 5:30p.m. April 25, deputies were sent to a disturbance call involving a weapon in the 4500 block of south Meadowview in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.When deputies arrived, they located a 55-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the backyard of a residence. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.&nbsp; The suspect identified as 62-year-old Phoukhong Khamvongsa&nbsp; of Wichita, was arrested at the residence <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=142445">and booked </a>into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.The victim and suspect are family members, according to Blick.He is scheduled for another court appearance on May 9. He remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

Attempted murder: Kan. man charged with shooting family member

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Three people died and three others were injured after two weekend shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. 

A spokesman for the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Marshee London said one shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. The Kansas City Star reports that in the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street. 

A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found one dead person and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police did not immediately name the victims or report any arrests.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Three people died and three others were injured after two weekend shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. A spokesman for the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, Officer Marshee London said one shooting happened late Saturday while the second one was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday. The Kansas City Star reports that in the first shooting, officers found two people who had been fatally wounded in the 1800 block of North 26th Street. A third person who had also been shot was taken to the hospital. On Sunday morning, police found one dead person and two wounded individuals in the 200 block of North 6th Street. Police did not immediately name the victims or report any arrests.

Three killed in two separate shootings in Kansas 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an arrest.

On April 27, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information on where an individual with a federal arrest warrant for felon in possession of a firearm was located, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

An on scene investigation confirmed that the individual was staying at a hotel in the 3700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. 

The United States Marshals Service Task Force Officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit assisted with the arrest of 32-year-old Martwan L. Cay of Topeka. 

During the execution of a subsequent search warrant initiated by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit, officers found a handgun, ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and pills believed to contain fentanyl.

Cay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the federal arrest warrant. He also faces charges of felony interference, felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of opiates, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651182000028.png" alt="Cay-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cay-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after an arrest.On April 27, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office received information on where an individual with a federal arrest warrant for felon in possession of a firearm was located, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.An on scene investigation confirmed that the individual was staying at a hotel in the 3700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard. The United States Marshals Service Task Force Officer from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit assisted with the arrest of 32-year-old Martwan L. Cay of Topeka. During the execution of a subsequent search warrant initiated by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit, officers found a handgun, ammunition, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and pills believed to contain fentanyl.Cay was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the federal arrest warrant. He also faces charges of felony interference, felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of opiates, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

U.S. Marshals find pills with fentanyl during arrest at Kansas motel

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kanas woman avoids jail time in connection with the abuse of her stepdaughter.

Amanda Moore, 31,&nbsp; Wichita, was sentenced this week to 36 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

If she violates probation, Moore could face three years in prison.

In February of 2019, police responded to home in the 1700 block of South Faulder in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

A 2-year-old girl's father found his daughter vomiting and then not breathing.&nbsp;

The father began lifesaving measures and the girl was taken to a local hospital where it was discovered she'd suffered critical head injuries, according to Davidson. Police arrested Moore, identified as the girl's stepmother on a requested charge of child abuse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650999988247.png" alt="Moore photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Moore photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kanas woman avoids jail time in connection with the abuse of her stepdaughter.Amanda Moore, 31,&nbsp; Wichita, was sentenced this week to 36 months of probation, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.If she violates probation, Moore could face three years in prison.In February of 2019, police responded to home in the 1700 block of South Faulder in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.A 2-year-old girl's father found his daughter vomiting and then not breathing.&nbsp;The father began lifesaving measures and the girl was taken to a local hospital where it was discovered she'd suffered critical head injuries, according to Davidson. Police arrested Moore, identified as the girl's stepmother on a requested charge of child abuse.

Kan. woman sentenced for abuse of 2-year-old stepdaughter 

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-26/addiction-derailed-their-lives-these-kansans-say-the-criminal-justice-system-made-it-worse">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Samantha Bishop used drugs to feel better 
about herself. That, coupled with social pressures, drove her ever 
deeper into addiction.

“It just kind of snowballed and became more of an everyday thing,” she said. “I had to have it to be able to function.”

One
 day when Bishop was dealing drugs so she could buy more for herself, 
she sold to an undercover officer. That landed her in prison for more 
than two years.

Four years later, she’s sober. In some respects, 
her story represents success because she recovered. But Bishop and 
others who went through the Kansas criminal justice system contend the 
state is not doing enough to support people with addiction.

“There’s
 a lack of compassion on the criminal justice system side. They look at 
it like, ‘Oh, you're bad. You broke the law,’” she said.

Kansas 
offers programs to help people recover and avoid jail or prison, but 
many people who need them don’t have access. Many Kansans sent to jail 
or prison on drug charges had to drop out of school, became homeless and
 lost meaningful connections with their children.

Bishop’s 
daughter has separation anxiety from when her mother went to prison. 
Bishop admits she made a mistake — like dealing drugs — but she said 
there would be less trauma if she had been given drug treatment instead 
of a prison sentence.

Randy Henderson 
started in law enforcement in 1976 and worked in the trenches of the war
 on drugs in the narcotics division at the Hutchinson Police Department 
from 1988 through 1997.

“My job was to arrest drug offenders, put 
them in jail and I forgot about them, basically,” said Henderson, a 
retired Reno County Sheriff. “When I came out of there in 1998, I had 
kind of a rude awakening.”

Henderson realized he needed to change 
his approach. Despite all the arrests, he didn’t see much progress. As 
sheriff, he helped create drug treatment and mental health programs in 
the Reno County jail. The success of that program convinced local 
elected officials, businesses and donors to establish a drug detox 
program.

But those changes can be slow-moving considering some community advocates were trying for decades to build the rehab facility.

“We’ve all got to open up our eyes and not just look at being the enforcers of the law,” Henderson said.

The
 hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Kansas each respond to 
addiction differently. Police have historically responded the same way 
Henderson did. Some are starting to change their thinking but there “are
 far more (of) the old mindset,” said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey 
Hooper.

Hooper said police often see people in crisis. And don’t 
see those same people again until another crisis strikes. So he’s formed
 a crisis response team of police, mental health and substance use 
experts. This team checks in more often to connect people with the 
resources they need to divert them away from jail or prison.

“We 
had to do better,” Hooper said. “We had to fund something up front to 
keep them out of the criminal justice system because that just compounds
 their problem. Not only do they have a substance misuse disorder, but 
now they have a criminal record.”

He hopes more will follow in his
 footsteps and hopes that more police can take a more sympathetic 
approach to people who get in trouble because they’re battling drug 
problems.

Bishop said the stigma of drug addiction is real. She 
recalled times she didn’t call the police during domestic abuse 
situations because she worried how police might respond. Meanwhile, the 
relationship made Bishop feel worse and compounded the problem.

“Drugs
 (were) present and (I) didn't really want to create more chaos,” she 
said. “It’s an unspoken rule. You just don't talk to the cops or call 
the cops because there is a chance that you will go to jail for whatever
 it is that you're doing.”

Kansas had 2,392 drug 
probation sentences in 2013. That number increased every year between 
2013 and 2019 and peaked at 3,939 drug probation sentences, according to
 data from the Kansas sentencing commission. A majority of those 
sentences, above 70%, were for possession.

The number suddenly 
dropped in 2020, though addiction counselors, judges and attorneys say 
the situation has not improved. One addiction specialist said, “these 
last two years have been the worst I’ve ever seen.”

More probation
 sentences mean more Kansans with addiction are going through the court 
system. A person could take multiple paths when they are first arrested 
on a drug charge, but what happens next depends on the person and the 
circumstances of their case — and which county they happen to get 
arrested in or the particular judge they face.

Shawnee County 
District Attorney Mike Kagay said a handful of judges hear cases like 
that in his county and each one may take a different approach. That 
response can vary county by county and no one clear outcome exists for 
people caught with drugs. But Kagay said he doesn’t want to send people 
to prison.

He said things like a lack of regional drug treatment facilities can make diverting people to treatment harder.

“There
 (are) not enough resources that have been allocated to addressing the 
issues of both drug addiction and mental illness in the state of 
Kansas,” he said. “We’re better off than where we were five years ago. 
But we're not where we need to be, not even close.”

Specialty drug
 courts provide wrap-around services to people on certain charges. Those
 charges do not need to be drug charges, but they have to be related to 
addiction, like writing bad checks to purchase drugs. Chief District 
Judge Nicholas St. Peter’s program serves Cowley County and is one of 
the oldest drug courts in Kansas. It has law enforcement, treatment 
providers, county prosecutors, defense attorneys and others who all work
 to help people recover.

“Drug court is an extremely intense 
program,” St. Peter said. “It’s not designed for your first-time 
substance abuse conviction of somebody who's a recreational, occasional 
drug user.”

Judges who spoke with the Kansas News Service said 
building a stronger support network around someone is a more productive 
way to handle addiction. Lower level offenses won’t result in prison 
time for someone, but giving them probation and sending them back out to
 the same situation they came from may not yield better results.

These
 specialty courts are becoming more popular, but they can be difficult 
to start. There are 13 drug courts programs statewide and less than half
 of the judicial districts in the state have one.

Chief District 
Judge Lori Bolton Fleming doesn’t have a drug court in the 11th district
 — which is Cherokee, Crawford and Labette County — but she is 
interested in starting one. Shortages of defense attorneys, funding or 
transportation issues can all hamper the court’s creation.

One 
judge said drug courts, while beneficial, only add to the overall 
workload of the people involved and it doesn’t bring a pay increase.

“Drug court or any specialty court catches people who wouldn’t otherwise fall through the cracks,” Bolton Fleming said.

Aside
 from drug courts, people on probation can be eligible for 18 months of 
drug treatment as part of a special state program. Kira Johnson, who 
runs the program for the Kansas Sentencing Commission, said it’s 
designed to divert people away from prison.

But that intervention 
program is beyond the reach of many of the people who need it most. Only
 38.2% of people on all drug probation sentences got the services in 
fiscal year 2020. The Kansas Legislature recently approved changes that 
could allow more people to access the program, but some barriers still 
remain.

To be eligible, someone must be high needs according to 
certain treatment screenings and can't have three past convictions for 
possession. That’s prompted criticisms that the program penalizes 
failure.

“Whether they get it this time or next time, it’s not our
 place to try to judge and figure out when that will be, it's just to 
provide them services and try to help them to get them where they are 
functioning healthy members of our society,” said Crystal Norman, 
executive director of addiction recovery provider Valley Hope.

Johnson
 said she would love to treat everyone until they recover, but there has
 to be a cutoff to ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.

Advocates
 argue spending upfront will save money in the long run because the 
annual cost of housing inmates in state prison is $30,100. Norman said 
if she had the same amount of money the state used to put people in 
prison or jail, she could provide therapy, case management and all other
 kinds of treatment.

“It’s a waste of money, putting them in jail 
and prison to expect them to come out somehow cured when we never 
provided treatment,” she said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Martony
 Cowan knows how to beat addiction. As a juvenile, he struggled. But he 
improved. He got a job and he graduated. Then, his mother died.

“I
 don’t want to say it’s an excuse, but I lost my mom,” said Cowan, who 
is held at the Winfield Correctional Facility. “I was going through a 
dark point in my life and I just relapsed. One time turned into two 
times and two times turned into plenty … until I got arrested.”

Cowan
 bought larger quantities of drugs and when he was caught he was 
considered a drug dealer. Because of his charges, Cowan was not offered 
drug treatment programs and said he was sentenced to just over five 
years in prison.

Jails and prisons have a large population of 
people struggling with addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse 
estimates that 65% of inmates in state prison have active substance 
misuse issues. The Kansas Department of Corrections’ drug treatment 
program had around 750 people, or about 8% of the inmate population, in 
fiscal year 2021.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">The Kansas News Service reported in February</a>
 that nobody tracks how many Kansas jails offer a combination of 
medication and counseling to inmates, but few do so nationwide. Going to
 jail or prison can abruptly stop drug treatment if nothing is offered 
while inside, and talking to doctors to start treatment can be 
difficult. Kansas prisons offer medication, like Vivitrol, though it 
isn’t uncommon for people to go cold turkey in prison, multiple inmates 
told the Kansas News Service.

The Department of Corrections 
deferred any comments to emailed statements. Carol Pitts, spokesperson 
for the department, said recently approved<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb267/" target="_blank"> legislation</a>
 currently in the Statehouse expands drug treatment programs at the 
Lansing and Winfield prisons. Prisons also offer Alcoholics Anonymous 
programs. All told, Pitts said, “current resources allow the department 
to reach almost half of the residents” with substance use issues.

The state prison’s treatment programs have been called life-changing by some inmates, but it is inaccessible to others.

Cowan
 is working a private industry job. He works when the treatment is 
offered and the staff who run the programs have gone home by the time he
 is off. Some people are also sent back to prison for only a few months 
if they violate parole. Shorter sentences and sanctions may not offer 
enough time for someone to take the four-to-six-month long treatment 
program.

Sherry White, founder and executive director of High 
Point Advocacy and Resource Center, said arresting people instead of 
helping them can lead to future legal troubles. Around 80% of the people
 High Point serves are on probation or parole and almost all of those 
sentences are drug-related.

To help people recover, addiction 
recovery specialists recommend keeping people in their community with 
friends and family, having stable work and housing. Jails and prisons 
can do the exact opposite.

Going to prison can make it harder for 
inmates to save up for a security deposit on an apartment or a down 
payment on a house. From July 2016 through July 2021, KDOC released 
5,238 inmates on indigent status, which means having less than $12 in a 
cumulative spendable amount in the past month.

The left-leaning 
Prison Policy Initiative found that formerly incarcerated people are 
almost 10 times more likely to be homeless and 27% of people with 
records are unemployed.

Even those with money now face the 
challenges of being a former inmate. White’s son was arrested for drug 
charges and struggled to find housing despite having money for rent, so 
he lived in her basement.

“Once you're in the system, it's hard to break out,” White said. “You can not incarcerate a disease out of somebody.”

People with felony drug 
charges are not eligible for food assistance and Kansas has one of the 
most burdensome drug offender registries in the country. People on the 
registry must check in with law enforcement every few months, share all 
social media handles and renew their driver's license yearly. Not doing 
so could put them back in prison.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty" target="_blank">Fines and fees</a>
 associated with the court system can also stack up, which can lead to 
future legal consequences. A survey by the Alabama Appleseed Center for 
Law and Justice found that 38% of people committed other crimes, like 
selling drugs, to pay off that debt.

The state Legislature has 
discussed changing some of these laws, but no bills have passed. 
Allowing food assistance for people with drug felonies passed out of 
committee but didn’t advance, and legislation that creates exit 
mechanisms for people to get off the drug registry is still waiting for 
action in the full Senate.

More comprehensive changes were also 
passed over. A bill exempting drug offenders from ever going on the 
registry hasn’t had a hearing. Another proposal to expand the drug 
sentencing grid and reduce possible penalties for drug charges also 
stalled.

Rep. Stephen Owens, a Heston Republican, chairs the 
corrections and juvenile justice committee. His committee worked on a 
handful of key legislation advocates and others were pushing for.

Owens
 was frustrated to see some of the changes fail, but he said the state 
is working to make life easier for people in recovery.

“I see how 
these things will make a significant difference in people’s lives. I 
understand it very well,” he said. “The broader (Legislature) has got to
 understand its benefits as well. And that’s challenging.”

In this
 session, the Legislature created a specialty court resources fund and a
 group to oversee that money in hopes of expanding these courts, which 
could expand drug and mental health courts.

Cowan said when he 
gets out of prison, he is going to move out of state to avoid 
post-prison restrictions. He wants to become a lineman and did take a 
class in prison that will help him, though he would be further along 
with his career goals if he didn’t spend all this time in prison.

“I'm
 now sober and plan on staying sober … so I guess (the system) works. 
But it was definitely overkill,” he said. “It wasn't necessary to this 
extent … It has done me more harm than good.”

Blaise Mesa 
reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News 
Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email 
him at blaise@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985519722.png" alt="Carlos Moreno / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Carlos Moreno / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-04-26/addiction-derailed-their-lives-these-kansans-say-the-criminal-justice-system-made-it-worse">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Samantha Bishop used drugs to feel better 
about herself. That, coupled with social pressures, drove her ever 
deeper into addiction.“It just kind of snowballed and became more of an everyday thing,” she said. “I had to have it to be able to function.”One
 day when Bishop was dealing drugs so she could buy more for herself, 
she sold to an undercover officer. That landed her in prison for more 
than two years.Four years later, she’s sober. In some respects, 
her story represents success because she recovered. But Bishop and 
others who went through the Kansas criminal justice system contend the 
state is not doing enough to support people with addiction.“There’s
 a lack of compassion on the criminal justice system side. They look at 
it like, ‘Oh, you're bad. You broke the law,’” she said.Kansas 
offers programs to help people recover and avoid jail or prison, but 
many people who need them don’t have access. Many Kansans sent to jail 
or prison on drug charges had to drop out of school, became homeless and
 lost meaningful connections with their children.Bishop’s 
daughter has separation anxiety from when her mother went to prison. 
Bishop admits she made a mistake — like dealing drugs — but she said 
there would be less trauma if she had been given drug treatment instead 
of a prison sentence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985590005.png" alt="Kansans in recovery say the criminal justice system makes it harder to get off drugs. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kansans in recovery say the criminal justice system makes it harder to get off drugs. Chris Neal / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘We've all got to open up our eyes’</h2>Randy Henderson 
started in law enforcement in 1976 and worked in the trenches of the war
 on drugs in the narcotics division at the Hutchinson Police Department 
from 1988 through 1997.“My job was to arrest drug offenders, put 
them in jail and I forgot about them, basically,” said Henderson, a 
retired Reno County Sheriff. “When I came out of there in 1998, I had 
kind of a rude awakening.”Henderson realized he needed to change 
his approach. Despite all the arrests, he didn’t see much progress. As 
sheriff, he helped create drug treatment and mental health programs in 
the Reno County jail. The success of that program convinced local 
elected officials, businesses and donors to establish a drug detox 
program.But those changes can be slow-moving considering some community advocates were trying for decades to build the rehab facility.“We’ve all got to open up our eyes and not just look at being the enforcers of the law,” Henderson said.The
 hundreds of law enforcement agencies in Kansas each respond to 
addiction differently. Police have historically responded the same way 
Henderson did. Some are starting to change their thinking but there “are
 far more (of) the old mindset,” said Hutchinson Police Chief Jeffrey 
Hooper.Hooper said police often see people in crisis. And don’t 
see those same people again until another crisis strikes. So he’s formed
 a crisis response team of police, mental health and substance use 
experts. This team checks in more often to connect people with the 
resources they need to divert them away from jail or prison.“We 
had to do better,” Hooper said. “We had to fund something up front to 
keep them out of the criminal justice system because that just compounds
 their problem. Not only do they have a substance misuse disorder, but 
now they have a criminal record.”He hopes more will follow in his
 footsteps and hopes that more police can take a more sympathetic 
approach to people who get in trouble because they’re battling drug 
problems.Bishop said the stigma of drug addiction is real. She 
recalled times she didn’t call the police during domestic abuse 
situations because she worried how police might respond. Meanwhile, the 
relationship made Bishop feel worse and compounded the problem.“Drugs
 (were) present and (I) didn't really want to create more chaos,” she 
said. “It’s an unspoken rule. You just don't talk to the cops or call 
the cops because there is a chance that you will go to jail for whatever
 it is that you're doing.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985620477.png" alt="Specialty courts could expand in Kansas after the state Legislature created a fund that'll support its expansion. KNS" />
 <figcaption>Specialty courts could expand in Kansas after the state Legislature created a fund that'll support its expansion. KNS</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Not enough resources’</h2>Kansas had 2,392 drug 
probation sentences in 2013. That number increased every year between 
2013 and 2019 and peaked at 3,939 drug probation sentences, according to
 data from the Kansas sentencing commission. A majority of those 
sentences, above 70%, were for possession.The number suddenly 
dropped in 2020, though addiction counselors, judges and attorneys say 
the situation has not improved. One addiction specialist said, “these 
last two years have been the worst I’ve ever seen.”More probation
 sentences mean more Kansans with addiction are going through the court 
system. A person could take multiple paths when they are first arrested 
on a drug charge, but what happens next depends on the person and the 
circumstances of their case — and which county they happen to get 
arrested in or the particular judge they face.Shawnee County 
District Attorney Mike Kagay said a handful of judges hear cases like 
that in his county and each one may take a different approach. That 
response can vary county by county and no one clear outcome exists for 
people caught with drugs. But Kagay said he doesn’t want to send people 
to prison.He said things like a lack of regional drug treatment facilities can make diverting people to treatment harder.“There
 (are) not enough resources that have been allocated to addressing the 
issues of both drug addiction and mental illness in the state of 
Kansas,” he said. “We’re better off than where we were five years ago. 
But we're not where we need to be, not even close.”Specialty drug
 courts provide wrap-around services to people on certain charges. Those
 charges do not need to be drug charges, but they have to be related to 
addiction, like writing bad checks to purchase drugs. Chief District 
Judge Nicholas St. Peter’s program serves Cowley County and is one of 
the oldest drug courts in Kansas. It has law enforcement, treatment 
providers, county prosecutors, defense attorneys and others who all work
 to help people recover.“Drug court is an extremely intense 
program,” St. Peter said. “It’s not designed for your first-time 
substance abuse conviction of somebody who's a recreational, occasional 
drug user.”Judges who spoke with the Kansas News Service said 
building a stronger support network around someone is a more productive 
way to handle addiction. Lower level offenses won’t result in prison 
time for someone, but giving them probation and sending them back out to
 the same situation they came from may not yield better results.These
 specialty courts are becoming more popular, but they can be difficult 
to start. There are 13 drug courts programs statewide and less than half
 of the judicial districts in the state have one.Chief District 
Judge Lori Bolton Fleming doesn’t have a drug court in the 11th district
 — which is Cherokee, Crawford and Labette County — but she is 
interested in starting one. Shortages of defense attorneys, funding or 
transportation issues can all hamper the court’s creation.One 
judge said drug courts, while beneficial, only add to the overall 
workload of the people involved and it doesn’t bring a pay increase.“Drug court or any specialty court catches people who wouldn’t otherwise fall through the cracks,” Bolton Fleming said.Aside
 from drug courts, people on probation can be eligible for 18 months of 
drug treatment as part of a special state program. Kira Johnson, who 
runs the program for the Kansas Sentencing Commission, said it’s 
designed to divert people away from prison.But that intervention 
program is beyond the reach of many of the people who need it most. Only
 38.2% of people on all drug probation sentences got the services in 
fiscal year 2020. The Kansas Legislature recently approved changes that 
could allow more people to access the program, but some barriers still 
remain.To be eligible, someone must be high needs according to 
certain treatment screenings and can't have three past convictions for 
possession. That’s prompted criticisms that the program penalizes 
failure.“Whether they get it this time or next time, it’s not our
 place to try to judge and figure out when that will be, it's just to 
provide them services and try to help them to get them where they are 
functioning healthy members of our society,” said Crystal Norman, 
executive director of addiction recovery provider Valley Hope.Johnson
 said she would love to treat everyone until they recover, but there has
 to be a cutoff to ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.Advocates
 argue spending upfront will save money in the long run because the 
annual cost of housing inmates in state prison is $30,100. Norman said 
if she had the same amount of money the state used to put people in 
prison or jail, she could provide therapy, case management and all other
 kinds of treatment.“It’s a waste of money, putting them in jail 
and prison to expect them to come out somehow cured when we never 
provided treatment,” she said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”<h2>‘It's hard to break out’</h2>Martony
 Cowan knows how to beat addiction. As a juvenile, he struggled. But he 
improved. He got a job and he graduated. Then, his mother died.“I
 don’t want to say it’s an excuse, but I lost my mom,” said Cowan, who 
is held at the Winfield Correctional Facility. “I was going through a 
dark point in my life and I just relapsed. One time turned into two 
times and two times turned into plenty … until I got arrested.”Cowan
 bought larger quantities of drugs and when he was caught he was 
considered a drug dealer. Because of his charges, Cowan was not offered 
drug treatment programs and said he was sentenced to just over five 
years in prison.Jails and prisons have a large population of 
people struggling with addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse 
estimates that 65% of inmates in state prison have active substance 
misuse issues. The Kansas Department of Corrections’ drug treatment 
program had around 750 people, or about 8% of the inmate population, in 
fiscal year 2021.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-16/a-few-kansas-jails-are-finally-allowing-medical-care-for-opioid-addiction" target="_blank">The Kansas News Service reported in February</a>
 that nobody tracks how many Kansas jails offer a combination of 
medication and counseling to inmates, but few do so nationwide. Going to
 jail or prison can abruptly stop drug treatment if nothing is offered 
while inside, and talking to doctors to start treatment can be 
difficult. Kansas prisons offer medication, like Vivitrol, though it 
isn’t uncommon for people to go cold turkey in prison, multiple inmates 
told the Kansas News Service.The Department of Corrections 
deferred any comments to emailed statements. Carol Pitts, spokesperson 
for the department, said recently approved<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb267/" target="_blank"> legislation</a>
 currently in the Statehouse expands drug treatment programs at the 
Lansing and Winfield prisons. Prisons also offer Alcoholics Anonymous 
programs. All told, Pitts said, “current resources allow the department 
to reach almost half of the residents” with substance use issues.The state prison’s treatment programs have been called life-changing by some inmates, but it is inaccessible to others.Cowan
 is working a private industry job. He works when the treatment is 
offered and the staff who run the programs have gone home by the time he
 is off. Some people are also sent back to prison for only a few months 
if they violate parole. Shorter sentences and sanctions may not offer 
enough time for someone to take the four-to-six-month long treatment 
program.Sherry White, founder and executive director of High 
Point Advocacy and Resource Center, said arresting people instead of 
helping them can lead to future legal troubles. Around 80% of the people
 High Point serves are on probation or parole and almost all of those 
sentences are drug-related.To help people recover, addiction 
recovery specialists recommend keeping people in their community with 
friends and family, having stable work and housing. Jails and prisons 
can do the exact opposite.Going to prison can make it harder for 
inmates to save up for a security deposit on an apartment or a down 
payment on a house. From July 2016 through July 2021, KDOC released 
5,238 inmates on indigent status, which means having less than $12 in a 
cumulative spendable amount in the past month.The left-leaning 
Prison Policy Initiative found that formerly incarcerated people are 
almost 10 times more likely to be homeless and 27% of people with 
records are unemployed.Even those with money now face the 
challenges of being a former inmate. White’s son was arrested for drug 
charges and struggled to find housing despite having money for rent, so 
he lived in her basement.“Once you're in the system, it's hard to break out,” White said. “You can not incarcerate a disease out of somebody.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650985660701.png" alt="State prisons offer treatment options, but they can be dificult to get inmates say. KNS" />
 <figcaption>State prisons offer treatment options, but they can be dificult to get inmates say. KNS</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘More harm than good'</h2>People with felony drug 
charges are not eligible for food assistance and Kansas has one of the 
most burdensome drug offender registries in the country. People on the 
registry must check in with law enforcement every few months, share all 
social media handles and renew their driver's license yearly. Not doing 
so could put them back in prison.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/critics-say-the-kansas-criminal-justice-systems-fees-and-fines-trap-people-in-a-cycle-of-poverty" target="_blank">Fines and fees</a>
 associated with the court system can also stack up, which can lead to 
future legal consequences. A survey by the Alabama Appleseed Center for 
Law and Justice found that 38% of people committed other crimes, like 
selling drugs, to pay off that debt.The state Legislature has 
discussed changing some of these laws, but no bills have passed. 
Allowing food assistance for people with drug felonies passed out of 
committee but didn’t advance, and legislation that creates exit 
mechanisms for people to get off the drug registry is still waiting for 
action in the full Senate.More comprehensive changes were also 
passed over. A bill exempting drug offenders from ever going on the 
registry hasn’t had a hearing. Another proposal to expand the drug 
sentencing grid and reduce possible penalties for drug charges also 
stalled.Rep. Stephen Owens, a Heston Republican, chairs the 
corrections and juvenile justice committee. His committee worked on a 
handful of key legislation advocates and others were pushing for.Owens
 was frustrated to see some of the changes fail, but he said the state 
is working to make life easier for people in recovery.“I see how 
these things will make a significant difference in people’s lives. I 
understand it very well,” he said. “The broader (Legislature) has got to
 understand its benefits as well. And that’s challenging.”In this
 session, the Legislature created a specialty court resources fund and a
 group to oversee that money in hopes of expanding these courts, which 
could expand drug and mental health courts.Cowan said when he 
gets out of prison, he is going to move out of state to avoid 
post-prison restrictions. He wants to become a lineman and did take a 
class in prison that will help him, though he would be further along 
with his career goals if he didn’t spend all this time in prison.“I'm
 now sober and plan on staying sober … so I guess (the system) works. 
But it was definitely overkill,” he said. “It wasn't necessary to this 
extent … It has done me more harm than good.”Blaise Mesa 
reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News 
Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email 
him at blaise@kcur.org.

Derailed by addiction, Kansans say criminal justice system made it worse

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for a suspect.

On Friday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of Everett Avenue, according to a media release.

Police found an adult man at the scene who was pronounced dead.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and searching for a suspect.On Friday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of Everett Avenue, according to a media release.Police found an adult man at the scene who was pronounced dead.Police have not reported an arrest.

Police search for suspect after Kan. man found dead 

BARBER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), along with the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Medicine Lodge Police Department, the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harper County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Friday for methamphetamine-related charges, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just before 9a.m. Friday, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at three locations in Barber County. Operations were conducted at 111 N. 1st&nbsp;St. in Sharon, Kansas, 502 W. Jefferson in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and at 2368 SE Highway 160 Stump Rd. in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Methamphetamine and firearms were found at the searched locations.

Following the searches, Matthew D. Schmidt, 37, of Sharon, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine using a communication facility, and three counts of felony in possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Kiowa County Jail.

Also arrested during the operation was Caden I. Snyder, 19, of Medicine Lodge. Snyder was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Harper County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional arrests are likely, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651279692187.png" alt="Schmidt-photo Kiowa Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Schmidt-photo Kiowa Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BARBER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), along with the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Medicine Lodge Police Department, the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harper County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men Friday for methamphetamine-related charges, according to a media release from the KBI.Just before 9a.m. Friday, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at three locations in Barber County. Operations were conducted at 111 N. 1st&nbsp;St. in Sharon, Kansas, 502 W. Jefferson in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and at 2368 SE Highway 160 Stump Rd. in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Methamphetamine and firearms were found at the searched locations.Following the searches, Matthew D. Schmidt, 37, of Sharon, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine using a communication facility, and three counts of felony in possession of stolen property. He was booked into the Kiowa County Jail.Also arrested during the operation was Caden I. Snyder, 19, of Medicine Lodge. Snyder was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the Harper County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additional arrests are likely, according to the KBI.

KBI helps make large meth distribution bust

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa man for alleged drug distribution.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop at 18th and Jackson in Great Bend on a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup for a traffic violation.

During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and over 100 grams of Marijuana were located, along with drug paraphernalia.

The driver of the vehicle, Brodie Bretz, age 29, was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $50,000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Police impounded the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651251435667.jpeg" alt="Bretz-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Bretz-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansa man for alleged drug distribution.Just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop at 18th and Jackson in Great Bend on a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup for a traffic violation.During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and over 100 grams of Marijuana were located, along with drug paraphernalia.The driver of the vehicle, Brodie Bretz, age 29, was arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $50,000 bond on requested charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Police impounded the vehicle.

Police: Kansas man accused of selling marijuana 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.

These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.

Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

Kan. deputies seize Delta-8 THC products at multiple businesses 

ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.

The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.

On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.

Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.

Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582652296671.png" alt=" Arredondo photo Grant Co." />
 <figcaption> Arredondo photo Grant Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ULYSSES – A southwest Kansas man has been convicted of murder in connection with the 2019 death of a child, according to Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Uraquio Agustin Arredondo, 31, of Ulysses, was convicted in Grant County District Court following a bench trial before Judge Clinton Peterson. Arredondo was found guilty of one count of first degree felony murder and one count of child abuse. Sentencing was set for June 13.The case involved the death of a 3-year-old child that occurred while the child was being physically abused.On Feb. 24, 2019 authorities arrested Uraquio “Rocky” A. Arredondo, at his home in the 900 Block of S. Cheyenne in Ulysses, Kan, according to a media release from the KBI.Arredondo was arrested for first degree murder and abuse of a child. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on $500,000 bond.The arrest followed a yearlong investigation by the KBI and the Ulysses Police Department into the death of 3-year-old Carlos Valenzuela III. On Feb. 26, 2019, police and EMS were dispatched to the child’s home after they received a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.Valenzuela was first transported to Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital and was then transferred to a Denver, Colo. hospital for treatment. He died Feb. 27, 2019 in Denver. Arredondo was in a relationship with child’s mother, according to the KBI.&nbsp;Sentencing is set for June 13.--------

Kan. man guilty in death of girlfriend's 3-year-old son

PRATT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged sex crimes.

Following an investigation conducted by the Pratt Police Department, Wichita Police and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 19-year-old Kristopher Vanzandt, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

 Multiple search warrants were executed because of the investigation and resulted in the seizure of computer equipment and documentation.

&nbsp;Vanzandt is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of&nbsp;on suspicion of aggravated trafficking of child pornography through the internet and unlawful possession of child pornography, according to the release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651164958461.png" alt="Vanzandt-photo Pratt Co." />
 <figcaption>Vanzandt-photo Pratt Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged sex crimes.Following an investigation conducted by the Pratt Police Department, Wichita Police and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested 19-year-old Kristopher Vanzandt, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. Multiple search warrants were executed because of the investigation and resulted in the seizure of computer equipment and documentation.&nbsp;Vanzandt is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of&nbsp;on suspicion of aggravated trafficking of child pornography through the internet and unlawful possession of child pornography, according to the release.

Sheriff: Kan. man held on $500K bond for alleged sex crimes

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, the cleaning crew arrived at Capital City Nissan to find the front door to the business was broken and it appeared that one of the vehicles inside the showroom was driven through one of the garage doors, according to police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Later in the early morning hours, Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a suspicious vehicle in the area of the 6800 block of SE Evans.

Deputies found the vehicle to be the one taken from Capital City Nissan and was still occupied.

As a result of the investigation,&nbsp; police arrested 27-year-old Rider J. Leppin of Colorado and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Felony Criminal Damage and Felony Warrant out of the State of Colorado, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651158694314.png" alt="Leppin-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Leppin-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, the cleaning crew arrived at Capital City Nissan to find the front door to the business was broken and it appeared that one of the vehicles inside the showroom was driven through one of the garage doors, according to police Lt. Manuel Munoz.Later in the early morning hours, Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a suspicious vehicle in the area of the 6800 block of SE Evans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651228893558.png" alt="Photo of the garage door damage courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the garage door damage courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies found the vehicle to be the one taken from Capital City Nissan and was still occupied.As a result of the investigation,&nbsp; police arrested 27-year-old Rider J. Leppin of Colorado and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Felony Criminal Damage and Felony Warrant out of the State of Colorado, according to Munoz.

Suspect crashed vehicle through doors of Kan. car dealership 

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. Bonds have been posted.&nbsp;

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Jazmin Campbell, Failure to appear, Arrested 4/27

Tammy Ayers, Failure to appear, Arrested 4/27

Willie Brown, Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; misdemeanor, Improper stopping, standing, or parking on roadway, Transporting an open container, Arrested 4/27

Travoris Steele, Criminal threat, Assault, Arrested 4/28

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. Bonds have been posted.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651183916590.jpeg" alt="Jeremy Spaur, Possession of stolen property; felony, Arrested 4/27" />
 <figcaption>Jeremy Spaur, Possession of stolen property; felony, Arrested 4/27</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651183963752.jpeg" alt="Erik Brown, Aggravated domestic battery, Kidnapping, Endangering a child, Arrested 4/27" />
 <figcaption>Erik Brown, Aggravated domestic battery, Kidnapping, Endangering a child, Arrested 4/27</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651184021187.jpeg" alt="Victor Traylor, Resisting arrest, Interference with LEO, Arrested 4/27" />
 <figcaption>Victor Traylor, Resisting arrest, Interference with LEO, Arrested 4/27</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651184074703.jpeg" alt="Rakari Coleman, Domestic battery, Unlawful damage to property, Intimidation of a witness or victim, Arrested 4/28" />
 <figcaption>Rakari Coleman, Domestic battery, Unlawful damage to property, Intimidation of a witness or victim, Arrested 4/28</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Jazmin Campbell, Failure to appear, Arrested 4/27Tammy Ayers, Failure to appear, Arrested 4/27Willie Brown, Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; misdemeanor, Improper stopping, standing, or parking on roadway, Transporting an open container, Arrested 4/27Travoris Steele, Criminal threat, Assault, Arrested 4/28Recent 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. Bonds have been posted.&nbsp;

Geary County Booking Photos April 28

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Reed is back in the United States one day after the Marine veteran was swapped for a Russian drug trafficker in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-prisoner-exchange-8fd1e58e690350019c7aab55af41bbbf">prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow</a>, his mother tweeted early Thursday morning.

“It’s been very exciting day for The Reed family. Trevor is back in the USA,” Paula Reed said on Twitter. Photographs tweeted from the account of Rep. August Pfluger, a Texas Republican, also showed him standing next to Reed.

His destination was not immediately clear. Reed’s parents live in Granbury, Texas, near Dallas.

Reed was swapped in Turkey on Wednesday for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy case.

“I think it’s going to really hit home for him and for us when we finally get to see him and touch him,” Reed’s father, Joey, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Reed, a 30-year-old former Marine, was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven by police to a police station following a night of heavy drinking.

He was later sentenced to nine years in prison. The U.S. government described him as unjustly detained and pressed for his release; his family asserted his innocence and expressed concerns about his deteriorating health — which included coughing up blood and a hunger strike.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trevor Reed is back in the United States one day after the Marine veteran was swapped for a Russian drug trafficker in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-prisoner-exchange-8fd1e58e690350019c7aab55af41bbbf">prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow</a>, his mother tweeted early Thursday morning.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is the moment we have all been praying for. WELCOME HOME, Trevor Reed! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/freetrevorreed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@freetrevorreed</a> <a href="https://t.co/GooLSxSfsk">pic.twitter.com/GooLSxSfsk</a>&mdash; Rep. August Pfluger (@RepPfluger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepPfluger/status/1519611148089364480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s been very exciting day for The Reed family. Trevor is back in the USA,” Paula Reed said on Twitter. Photographs tweeted from the account of Rep. August Pfluger, a Texas Republican, also showed him standing next to Reed.His destination was not immediately clear. Reed’s parents live in Granbury, Texas, near Dallas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651147467062.png" alt="President Biden met with the parents of Trevor Reed last month to discuss Trevor's safe return to the United States after being detained in Russia-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden met with the parents of Trevor Reed last month to discuss Trevor's safe return to the United States after being detained in Russia-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Reed was swapped in Turkey on Wednesday for Konstantin Yaroshenko, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy case.“I think it’s going to really hit home for him and for us when we finally get to see him and touch him,” Reed’s father, Joey, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.Reed, a 30-year-old former Marine, was arrested in the summer of 2019 after Russian authorities said he assaulted an officer while being driven by police to a police station following a night of heavy drinking.He was later sentenced to nine years in prison. The U.S. government described him as unjustly detained and pressed for his release; his family asserted his innocence and expressed concerns about his deteriorating health — which included coughing up blood and a hunger strike.

Former Marine back in US, one day after Russian prisoner swap

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gunfight that sent a Kansas man to the hospital.

Just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a shooting that occurred in the 9000 Block of J Road, Silver Lake, was reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 A man who resides at the residence stated that a neighbor came to the address and the two men fired guns at each other. The neighbor was injured.

&nbsp;EMS transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, according to Morse. Deputies and detectives&nbsp; processed the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest.

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a gunfight that sent a Kansas man to the hospital.Just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; a shooting that occurred in the 9000 Block of J Road, Silver Lake, was reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. A man who resides at the residence stated that a neighbor came to the address and the two men fired guns at each other. The neighbor was injured.&nbsp;EMS transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, according to Morse. Deputies and detectives&nbsp; processed the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest.

Sheriff: Kan. man injured after neighbors have gunfight

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities made four separate vehicle stop investigations that led to multiple arrests, in various locations, around the capital city on Sunday, according to Police Chief Brian Wheeles.

Officers seized four handguns and suspected illegal drugs. Police in Topeka have seized 208 firearms thus far in 2022.

At approximately 3:00 p.m. Sunday, officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of SW Huntoon and SW Lincoln in Topeka. The related investigation led to the arrest of 30-year-old&nbsp; Kevan J. Shane of Topeka on a felony arrest warrant and requested charges of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and other misdemeanor arrest warrants. A handgun was seized in this investigation.&nbsp;

At 3:30 pm, officers stopped a vehicle related to a felony arrest warrant and a domestic violence investigation, in the area of SW 12th and SW Polk in Topeka. Police arrested 41-year-0ld Glenn Ford, Jr. of Topeka, for multiple felony warrants and requested charges of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Marijuana, Criminal Damage (Domestic Violence) and Theft. A handgun was seized in this investigation, along with suspected marijuana.

At 8:00 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the 300 block of SE Pinecrest, related to a gunshots in the area call. The related investigation led to the arrest of 19-year-old Jose A.Hernandez of Topeka, on requested charges of Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute &amp; Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. A handgun was seized in this investigation, along with suspected marijuana.

Just before midnight, officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of SW 6th and S Topeka Blvd. The related investigation led to the arrest of 23-year-old Kayley McDaniel of Topeka on requested charges for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia. A handgun, was seized in this investigation, along with suspected Marijuana and Xanax.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650973929790.png" alt="Shane from a 2021 arrest in Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Shane from a 2021 arrest in Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities made four separate vehicle stop investigations that led to multiple arrests, in various locations, around the capital city on Sunday, according to Police Chief Brian Wheeles.Officers seized four handguns and suspected illegal drugs. Police in Topeka have seized 208 firearms thus far in 2022.At approximately 3:00 p.m. Sunday, officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of SW Huntoon and SW Lincoln in Topeka. The related investigation led to the arrest of 30-year-old&nbsp; Kevan J. Shane of Topeka on a felony arrest warrant and requested charges of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and other misdemeanor arrest warrants. A handgun was seized in this investigation.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650973662339.png" alt="Ford-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ford-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>At 3:30 pm, officers stopped a vehicle related to a felony arrest warrant and a domestic violence investigation, in the area of SW 12th and SW Polk in Topeka. Police arrested 41-year-0ld Glenn Ford, Jr. of Topeka, for multiple felony warrants and requested charges of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Marijuana, Criminal Damage (Domestic Violence) and Theft. A handgun was seized in this investigation, along with suspected marijuana.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650974232607.png" alt="Hernandez-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>At 8:00 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the 300 block of SE Pinecrest, related to a gunshots in the area call. The related investigation led to the arrest of 19-year-old Jose A.Hernandez of Topeka, on requested charges of Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute &amp; Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. A handgun was seized in this investigation, along with suspected marijuana.Just before midnight, officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the area of SW 6th and S Topeka Blvd. The related investigation led to the arrest of 23-year-old Kayley McDaniel of Topeka on requested charges for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia. A handgun, was seized in this investigation, along with suspected Marijuana and Xanax.

Topeka police have seized over 200 firearms this year

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 5:30p.m. Monday, deputies were sent to a disturbance call involving a weapon in the 4500 block of south Meadowview in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Detectives are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650989518111.png" alt="Khamvongsa-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Khamvongsa-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and have made an arrest.Just before 5:30p.m. Monday, deputies were sent to a disturbance call involving a weapon in the 4500 block of south Meadowview in Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.When deputies arrived, they located a 55-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the backyard of a residence. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.&nbsp; The suspect identified as 62-year-old Phoukhong Khamvongsa&nbsp; of Wichita, was arrested at the residence <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=142445">and booked </a>into the Sedgwick County Detention Facility on requested charges of Aggravated Battery.The victim and suspect are family members, according to Blick.Detectives are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Sheriff: Kan. man shot family member in backyard of home

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man on Monday wanted on multiple Salina Municipal Court warrants after a traffic stop in central Salina.

Just after 8:30a.m. a police officer on patrol in the 200 block of W. Crawford Street noticed a 2005 Ford Escape that had an expired license plate, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The officer was able to stop the vehicle in the 500 block of S. Ninth Street.

The driver allegedly initially identified himself with a false name and date of birth, however, the officer was able to identify him as Dalton Reinbold, 24, of Salina.

Reinbold was known to have seven active Salina Municipal Court warrants for probation violations. In addition to the warrants, Reinbold was arrested on requested charges of Obstruction, Driving while suspended, Driving while a habitual violator, No proof of insurance, Expired registration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650988141361.png" alt="Dalton Reinbold photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Dalton Reinbold photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Police arrested a Kansas man on Monday wanted on multiple Salina Municipal Court warrants after a traffic stop in central Salina.Just after 8:30a.m. a police officer on patrol in the 200 block of W. Crawford Street noticed a 2005 Ford Escape that had an expired license plate, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The officer was able to stop the vehicle in the 500 block of S. Ninth Street.The driver allegedly initially identified himself with a false name and date of birth, however, the officer was able to identify him as Dalton Reinbold, 24, of Salina.Reinbold was known to have seven active Salina Municipal Court warrants for probation violations. In addition to the warrants, Reinbold was arrested on requested charges of Obstruction, Driving while suspended, Driving while a habitual violator, No proof of insurance, Expired registration.

Police: Wanted Kan. man used false name during traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jail deputy who admitted having sex with inmates is going to prison.

Tony LoSavio, 41, of Wichita, was sentenced to just over 2 and one half. years in prison for having unlawful sexual relations with an inmate, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. He also had to register as a sex offender.

In February, LoSavio pleaded guilty to two of eight counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;&nbsp;On May 4, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received information that LoSavio was having sexual contact with a female inmate, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

The Sheriff’s Office investigated the complaint and determined enough probable cause existed to arrest LoSavio.

He began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2017 and has been placed on an unpaid suspension.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650921365728.png" alt="LoSavio-photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>LoSavio-photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jail deputy who admitted having sex with inmates is going to prison.Tony LoSavio, 41, of Wichita, was sentenced to just over 2 and one half. years in prison for having unlawful sexual relations with an inmate, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. He also had to register as a sex offender.In February, LoSavio pleaded guilty to two of eight counts of unlawful sexual relations.&nbsp;&nbsp;On May 4, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received information that LoSavio was having sexual contact with a female inmate, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.The Sheriff’s Office investigated the complaint and determined enough probable cause existed to arrest LoSavio.He began employment with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2017 and has been placed on an unpaid suspension.----------

Kan.  jail deputy registers as sex offender for sex with inmate

Junction City police have reported the arrest of a suspect in a series of recent vehicle burglary cases. JCPD confirmed the arrest of William Bivens IV, 18, Junction City, on requested charges of eight counts of Felony Vehicle Burglary and eight counts of Felony Theft from a Motor Vehicle.&nbsp;

Junction City police have reported the arrest of a suspect in a series of recent vehicle burglary cases. JCPD confirmed the arrest of William Bivens IV, 18, Junction City, on requested charges of eight counts of Felony Vehicle Burglary and eight counts of Felony Theft from a Motor Vehicle.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650923496205.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;William Bivens IV ( Photo&nbsp; from Geary County Sheriff Department )" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;William Bivens IV ( Photo&nbsp; from Geary County Sheriff Department )</figcaption>
 </figure>Cory Odell. JCPD Captain, said authorities had some video from one of the cases, "that led us to a suspect that we were able to successfully identify, recover some of the property and then make an arrest in these cases."Bivens was arrested on Saturday at 1005 West 5th Street, Playground Park.