TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying  individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.

With the public's help on Monday afternoon, police identified Joshua A. Simon, 23 of Mayetta and arrested, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following charges Incitement to riot, Criminal damage to property and Unlawful assembly.

Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.

Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.

TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying&nbsp; individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.

The confrontation in Topeka involved about 150 people who gathered around the Law Enforcement Center. It came hours after several hundred people had demonstrated peacefully in downtown Topeka. At one point, some protesters threw rocks and debris at officers trying to rescue a protester who needed medical attention, police said. Some officers were hit with bricks but were not seriously injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591698985075.png" alt="Simon" />
 <figcaption>Simon</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591699034002.png" alt="Simon photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Simon photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>With the public's help on Monday afternoon, police identified Joshua A. Simon, 23 of Mayetta and arrested, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the following charges Incitement to riot, Criminal damage to property and Unlawful assembly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591643178040.png" alt="Photo courtesy Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.-----------TOPEKA—Law enforcement authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying&nbsp; individuals responsible for criminal damage and incitement to riot during the protests outside the Law Enforcement Center, 320 South Kansas Avenue in Topeka on June 1.Seven people were arrested in Topeka after protesters threw rocks and debris at officers during disturbances that came after generally peaceful gatherings had broken up.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591094592476.png" alt="Police and protesters during the confrontation June 1 in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police and protesters during the confrontation June 1 in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The confrontation in Topeka involved about 150 people who gathered around the Law Enforcement Center. It came hours after several hundred people had demonstrated peacefully in downtown Topeka. At one point, some protesters threw rocks and debris at officers trying to rescue a protester who needed medical attention, police said. Some officers were hit with bricks but were not seriously injured.Anyone with information about those pictured is encouraged to email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:telltpd@topeka.org" target="_blank">telltpd@topeka.org</a>. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.p3tips.com/128" target="_blank">www.p3tips.com/128</a>&nbsp;or download the P3tips app. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 through Crime Stoppers.

Update: Police ID suspect in Topeka protest confrontation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are proposing an overhaul of police procedures and accountability after the mass protests over the deaths of black Americans at the hand of law enforcement

The Justice in Policing Act is among the most ambitious law enforcement reforms from Congress in years and confronts several aspects of policing that have come under strong criticism, especially as more and more police violence is captured on cellphone video and shared across the nation and the world.

The package limits legal protections for police, creates a national database of excessive-force encounters and bans police choke holds, among other changes. The changes, if enacted, would have massive implications on policing in the U.S.

It’s not clear whether the legislation will pass, especially in an election year and amid calls to “defund the police” and growing protests. President Donald Trump has tried to set himself up as a “law and order” leader and has criticized the package, claiming Democrats have “gone CRAZY.”

A few things to know about the bill and how it could make a difference:

Under the proposal, the federal civil rights law that governs police misconduct would no longer require prosecutors to prove that an officer’s actions were willful, a high burden of proof. The law would allow an officer to be charged for acting with reckless disregard for someone’s life, causing that person's death.

Under the current law, it is federal crime to willfully deprive someone of their civil rights under the color of authority, but the officer also must have known what they were doing was wrong and against the law and decided to do it anyway. To prove that crime, prosecutors would need to convince a jury that the force used was more than what would be reasonably necessary to arrest or subdue a suspect, meaning convincing jurors that in the middle of an arrest the officer made a clear and willful decision to cause someone’s death.

That was a burden of proof that prosecutors said they couldn’t meet in the case of Eric Garner when they declined to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo last year.

Police officers are generally not held personally liable for anything that happens on the job, including when someone dies. The concept of qualified immunity has long been a way to protect police from unnecessary lawsuits and to give them the freedom to police without fear of unnecessary retribution.

The bill would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. The move could have major consequences for officers who would think twice before abusing their power, but it could also make it more difficult to recruit police nationwide. It could also potentially lead to officers being held financially liable, too. Cities often bear the brunt of misconduct claims. In a 10-year period in New York, for example, the city paid out nearly $1 billion to settle claims made against police.

A long-held grievance has been that prosecutors and police have too cozy a relationship and can’t separate that out when misconduct is an issue. It is part of the investigation now into the the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia. The father and son accused of killing Arbery had a long history with the local district attorney, the father having worked for the DA as an investigator for 20 years. The case is now being investigated by a separate district attorney. Some states have created a special prosecutor to investigate all misconduct claims against local police. The bill provides a grant program for state attorneys general to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.

A second issue is many officers who wind up involved in a fatal shooting have a long history of misconduct, including Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who has been charged with murder in the death of George Floyd. He had at least a dozen complaints made against him, according to records. But those records are often not made public, making it difficult to know if officers have a track record. The bill calls for a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records, which proponents say would be a massive step forward in transparency.

Democrats say the ability of the Justice Department’s civil rights division to perform so-called pattern or practice investigations, sweeping probes into police departments that examine whether systemic deficiencies contribute to misconduct or enable it to persist, has been curtailed. The proposal would give specific subpoena power to federal civil rights prosecutors to conduct those investigations and would aid state attorneys general with conducting similar investigations.

The Justice Department hasn’t banned pattern or practice investigations. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, however, has suggested that they may have been previously overused. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms. The consent decrees included those with the police in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of Michael Brown and in Baltimore following the police custody death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.

Hours before he resigned as attorney general in November 2018, Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees. The policy makes their use more difficult to enact and requires top Justice Department officials to approve the deals.

Other measures in the legislation are likely to face significant hurdles to enact. And there are some that police officials are likely to argue could endanger officers' lives.

The bill calls for a ban on “no knock” warrants, which are typically executed in some of the most dangerous investigations conducted by police departments. The legislation would specifically ban no-knock warrants for all federal drug cases and would require local and state law enforcement agencies to prohibit their use to qualify for some federal funding. Oregon and Florida are the only states that have outlawed such warrants.

A no-knock warrant, as its name implies, is an order from a judge that allows police to enter a home without prior notification to the residents, such as ringing a doorbell or banging on the door. In most cases, the law requires that officers must knock and announce themselves before entering a private home to execute a search warrant. Police would generally seek a no-knock warrant if the situation might be extraordinarily dangerous or if a suspect is likely to destroy evidence when police knock on the door. But critics have said their use has increased dramatically in recent years and some departments use them routinely in cases that don’t merit such an exception.

There has been a growing call to ban no-knock warrants since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville home by officers in March.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591646982223.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with other Congressional Democrats, speaks during a news conference to unveil policing reform and equal justice legislation on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with other Congressional Democrats, speaks during a news conference to unveil policing reform and equal justice legislation on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are proposing an overhaul of police procedures and accountability after the mass protests over the deaths of black Americans at the hand of law enforcementThe Justice in Policing Act is among the most ambitious law enforcement reforms from Congress in years and confronts several aspects of policing that have come under strong criticism, especially as more and more police violence is captured on cellphone video and shared across the nation and the world.The package limits legal protections for police, creates a national database of excessive-force encounters and bans police choke holds, among other changes. The changes, if enacted, would have massive implications on policing in the U.S.It’s not clear whether the legislation will pass, especially in an election year and amid calls to “defund the police” and growing protests. President Donald Trump has tried to set himself up as a “law and order” leader and has criticized the package, claiming Democrats have “gone CRAZY.”A few things to know about the bill and how it could make a difference:CHANGING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWUnder the proposal, the federal civil rights law that governs police misconduct would no longer require prosecutors to prove that an officer’s actions were willful, a high burden of proof. The law would allow an officer to be charged for acting with reckless disregard for someone’s life, causing that person's death.Under the current law, it is federal crime to willfully deprive someone of their civil rights under the color of authority, but the officer also must have known what they were doing was wrong and against the law and decided to do it anyway. To prove that crime, prosecutors would need to convince a jury that the force used was more than what would be reasonably necessary to arrest or subdue a suspect, meaning convincing jurors that in the middle of an arrest the officer made a clear and willful decision to cause someone’s death.That was a burden of proof that prosecutors said they couldn’t meet in the case of Eric Garner when they declined to bring charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo last year.QUALIFIED IMMUNITYPolice officers are generally not held personally liable for anything that happens on the job, including when someone dies. The concept of qualified immunity has long been a way to protect police from unnecessary lawsuits and to give them the freedom to police without fear of unnecessary retribution.The bill would amend federal misconduct statutes to make it easier for courts to find officers personally liable for the violation of civil rights. The move could have major consequences for officers who would think twice before abusing their power, but it could also make it more difficult to recruit police nationwide. It could also potentially lead to officers being held financially liable, too. Cities often bear the brunt of misconduct claims. In a 10-year period in New York, for example, the city paid out nearly $1 billion to settle claims made against police.INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENTA long-held grievance has been that prosecutors and police have too cozy a relationship and can’t separate that out when misconduct is an issue. It is part of the investigation now into the the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in coastal Georgia. The father and son accused of killing Arbery had a long history with the local district attorney, the father having worked for the DA as an investigator for 20 years. The case is now being investigated by a separate district attorney. Some states have created a special prosecutor to investigate all misconduct claims against local police. The bill provides a grant program for state attorneys general to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments.A second issue is many officers who wind up involved in a fatal shooting have a long history of misconduct, including Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who has been charged with murder in the death of George Floyd. He had at least a dozen complaints made against him, according to records. But those records are often not made public, making it difficult to know if officers have a track record. The bill calls for a national registry including complaints, disciplinary records and termination records, which proponents say would be a massive step forward in transparency.PATTERN OR PRACTICE INVESTIGATIONSDemocrats say the ability of the Justice Department’s civil rights division to perform so-called pattern or practice investigations, sweeping probes into police departments that examine whether systemic deficiencies contribute to misconduct or enable it to persist, has been curtailed. The proposal would give specific subpoena power to federal civil rights prosecutors to conduct those investigations and would aid state attorneys general with conducting similar investigations.The Justice Department hasn’t banned pattern or practice investigations. U.S. Attorney General William Barr, however, has suggested that they may have been previously overused. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms. The consent decrees included those with the police in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of Michael Brown and in Baltimore following the police custody death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray.Hours before he resigned as attorney general in November 2018, Jeff Sessions signed a memo that sharply curtailed the use of consent decrees. The policy makes their use more difficult to enact and requires top Justice Department officials to approve the deals.SIGNIFICANT HURDLESOther measures in the legislation are likely to face significant hurdles to enact. And there are some that police officials are likely to argue could endanger officers' lives.The bill calls for a ban on “no knock” warrants, which are typically executed in some of the most dangerous investigations conducted by police departments. The legislation would specifically ban no-knock warrants for all federal drug cases and would require local and state law enforcement agencies to prohibit their use to qualify for some federal funding. Oregon and Florida are the only states that have outlawed such warrants.A no-knock warrant, as its name implies, is an order from a judge that allows police to enter a home without prior notification to the residents, such as ringing a doorbell or banging on the door. In most cases, the law requires that officers must knock and announce themselves before entering a private home to execute a search warrant. Police would generally seek a no-knock warrant if the situation might be extraordinarily dangerous or if a suspect is likely to destroy evidence when police knock on the door. But critics have said their use has increased dramatically in recent years and some departments use them routinely in cases that don’t merit such an exception.There has been a growing call to ban no-knock warrants since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed in her Louisville home by officers in March.

A look at Democrats' sweeping proposals to overhaul the police

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.&nbsp;(AP) — A&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;woman accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson and plotting to break out of jail must undergo a competency evaluation to determine her ability to stand trial.

In March, authorities in South Carolina arrested 36-year-old Letecia Stauch, in connection with the disappearance and death of Gannon Stauch, according to El Paso, County Colorado Sheriff Bill Elder.

On her return to face murder charges, Stauch was held overnight in the Saline County Kansas jail.

On Friday, District Judge Gregory Werner granted a defense motion for the evaluation, essentially halting further prosecution of Stauch until she is deemed mentally fit to face trial for the death of Gannon Stauch, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

During the hearing, prosecutors also filed a new charge of solicitation to commit escape.

Stauch is accused of telling a fellow inmate about her plans to use a broom handle to break the window in her cell at the El Paso County Jail, and that she had already measured herself to make sure she could fit through, according to a probable cause affidavit dated Monday.

Investigators said they found a note in Stauch’s cell with her daughter’s name on it telling her not to be afraid if media reports emerge that she is no longer in jail or is missing.

The fellow inmate told deputies about the plan and gave them notes from Stauch suggesting that she could pay her to help, according to the affidavit. At least one of the notes was partially written in code.

Stauch is being represented by the state public defender’s office, which does not comment on cases.

She reported Gannon missing Jan. 27, saying he never returned to his Colorado Springs home after leaving to go to a friend’s house.

After a search that lasted for weeks came up empty, investigators presumed the boy was dead and arrested the stepmother in Myrtle Beach,&nbsp;South Carolina, on March 2. Remains tentatively identified as Gannon's were found in the small city of Pace, on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>&nbsp;Panhandle.

Investigators believe Stauch killed Gannon in his basement bedroom with a knife or other weapon a few hours before reporting him missing, then concocted a variety of stories to mislead them.

Evidence of blood was found in Gannon’s bedroom and Stauch’s SUV, according to an arrest affidavit.

The document doesn’t describe a motive, but investigators said that based on Stauch's internet searches, it seems she was unhappily married and resentful of being treated as a babysitter for her stepchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583413880453.png" alt="Stauch photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Stauch photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.&nbsp;(AP) — A&nbsp;Colorado&nbsp;woman accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson and plotting to break out of jail must undergo a competency evaluation to determine her ability to stand trial.In March, authorities in South Carolina arrested 36-year-old Letecia Stauch, in connection with the disappearance and death of Gannon Stauch, according to El Paso, County Colorado Sheriff Bill Elder.On her return to face murder charges, Stauch was held overnight in the Saline County Kansas jail.On Friday, District Judge Gregory Werner granted a defense motion for the evaluation, essentially halting further prosecution of Stauch until she is deemed mentally fit to face trial for the death of Gannon Stauch, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported.During the hearing, prosecutors also filed a new charge of solicitation to commit escape.Stauch is accused of telling a fellow inmate about her plans to use a broom handle to break the window in her cell at the El Paso County Jail, and that she had already measured herself to make sure she could fit through, according to a probable cause affidavit dated Monday.Investigators said they found a note in Stauch’s cell with her daughter’s name on it telling her not to be afraid if media reports emerge that she is no longer in jail or is missing.The fellow inmate told deputies about the plan and gave them notes from Stauch suggesting that she could pay her to help, according to the affidavit. At least one of the notes was partially written in code.Stauch is being represented by the state public defender’s office, which does not comment on cases.She reported Gannon missing Jan. 27, saying he never returned to his Colorado Springs home after leaving to go to a friend’s house.After a search that lasted for weeks came up empty, investigators presumed the boy was dead and arrested the stepmother in Myrtle Beach,&nbsp;South Carolina, on March 2. Remains tentatively identified as Gannon's were found in the small city of Pace, on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida">Florida</a>&nbsp;Panhandle.Investigators believe Stauch killed Gannon in his basement bedroom with a knife or other weapon a few hours before reporting him missing, then concocted a variety of stories to mislead them.Evidence of blood was found in Gannon’s bedroom and Stauch’s SUV, according to an arrest affidavit.The document doesn’t describe a motive, but investigators said that based on Stauch's internet searches, it seems she was unhappily married and resentful of being treated as a babysitter for her stepchildren.

Competency evaluation for woman accused of killing stepson

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after a weekend traffic stop.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Pontiac Aztec that had been traveling northbound on U.S. 75 just south of the City of Holton for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 During the investigation of the traffic stop, the driver, Alisa Marie Sharpe, 36, of Topeka was subsequently arrested for allegedly being in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, no driver’s license, and no insurance. Sharpe also had an outstanding Jackson County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Sharpe was transported to and booked into the Jackson County Jail, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591622624242.png" alt="Sharpe photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Sharpe photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges after a weekend traffic stop.Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Pontiac Aztec that had been traveling northbound on U.S. 75 just south of the City of Holton for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the investigation of the traffic stop, the driver, Alisa Marie Sharpe, 36, of Topeka was subsequently arrested for allegedly being in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, no driver’s license, and no insurance. Sharpe also had an outstanding Jackson County District Court warrant for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sharpe was transported to and booked into the Jackson County Jail, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Kansas woman found with drugs during traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack and the suspect remains in custody.

Just after 6:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a stabbing at a residence in the 800 block of South Beverly in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp; 

Upon arrival, officers located a 63-year-old man who had been stabbed multiple times.&nbsp; He was transported to a local hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed that 61-year-old Martin Cole and the 63-year-old victim who are neighbors, were involved in an earlier disturbance at a nearby bar.&nbsp; They both left the bar and went to their residences.&nbsp; A second disturbance occurred between the two, where the 63-year-old was stabbed.

Cole was arrested without incident at his residence on a requested charge of attempted 1st-degree murder and an outstanding city of Wichita warrant. He remains jailed on total bonds of $152,500,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18779658"> according to online jail records.</a>

The case will presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591488145572.png" alt="Cole photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cole photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent knife attack and the suspect remains in custody.Just after 6:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a stabbing at a residence in the 800 block of South Beverly in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers located a 63-year-old man who had been stabbed multiple times.&nbsp; He was transported to a local hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.The investigation revealed that 61-year-old Martin Cole and the 63-year-old victim who are neighbors, were involved in an earlier disturbance at a nearby bar.&nbsp; They both left the bar and went to their residences.&nbsp; A second disturbance occurred between the two, where the 63-year-old was stabbed.Cole was arrested without incident at his residence on a requested charge of attempted 1st-degree murder and an outstanding city of Wichita warrant. He remains jailed on total bonds of $152,500,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18779658"> according to online jail records.</a>The case will presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Kan. man remains jailed for allegedly stabbing his neighbor 

TOPEKA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who surrendered after more than five hours of negotiations and standoff in Topeka.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a home in the 3600 block of SW Skyline Parkway on a check welfare call, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that an adult female victim was being held against her will. A short time later, the victim was able to leave the home safely.

Police ultimately took the suspect identified as&nbsp;38-year-old Brian M. Wright into custod&nbsp; around 6:15 a.m. Sunday.

Wright was is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Domestic Battery,, Criminal Restraint and Aggravated Assault, according to Koenen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591567742989.png" alt="Wright photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wright photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who surrendered after more than five hours of negotiations and standoff in Topeka.Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a home in the 3600 block of SW Skyline Parkway on a check welfare call, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591553436416.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff -image courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff -image courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers discovered that an adult female victim was being held against her will. A short time later, the victim was able to leave the home safely.Police ultimately took the suspect identified as&nbsp;38-year-old Brian M. Wright into custod&nbsp; around 6:15 a.m. Sunday.Wright was is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Domestic Battery,, Criminal Restraint and Aggravated Assault, according to Koenen.

Kansas man arrested after 5-hour standoff

Kansas City (AP) — As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm — the close proximity of protesters and their failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new transmissions of the coronavirus.

Many of the protests broke out in places where the virus is still circulating widely in the population. In fact, an Associated Press review found that demonstrations have taken place in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new cases. Some have seen major protests over multiple days, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The protests have come just as communities across the nation loosen restrictions on businesses and public life that have helped slow the spread of the virus, deepening concern that the two factors taken together could create a national resurgence in cases.

“As a nation, we have to be concerned about a rebound,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser warned Sunday after days of protests rocked the nation’s capital. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo bemoaned the crowds, saying that hundreds could potentially have been infected, undoing months of social distancing.

A fresh outbreak in the places where protesters gathered could lead to reinstituting shutdowns.

The AP’s review focused on large metro counties — the central counties within metro areas with more than 1 million people — that showed the highest rates of new cases per capita over the past 14 days.

While case numbers and deaths have been trending down in several of the cities where the largest protests have occurred, the number of people in those places infected with the virus — and with the ability to spread it — remains high. And in some of the communities, such as Minneapolis, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been rising.

Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes, even as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Minneapolis has been ground zero for the sprawling protests, which have crossed the Mississippi River into neighboring St. Paul.

The unrest has coincided with “the very worst days of the pandemic so far” in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

“Our ICU bed care is at its all-time high and is really on the edge,” he said.

Ramsey and Hennepin counties, home to the Twin Cities, ranked seventh and eighth for the highest per capita new cases in the AP analysis. Each has seen more than 250 cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, together reporting nearly 2,000 new cases in the last week alone.

Experts point out that other factors associated with protests could accelerate the spread of the virus. For instance, tear gas can cause people to cough and sneeze, as can the smoke from fires set by people bent on destruction. And both also prompt protesters to remove their masks.

Crowding protesters who have been arrested into jail cells can also increase the risk of contagion. An AP tally found that, thus far, more than 5,600 people have been taken into custody.

Protesters and police shouting at one another nose-to-nose also is raising alarms.

Osterholm and other public health experts note, however, that the protests aren’t necessarily as alarming as other events that could fuel new cases because they take place outside and many people are wearing masks. In some cases, hand sanitizer also is being informally distributed.

And Dr. David Eisenman, director of the Center for Public Health and Disasters at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said he feared partisan forces might accuse cities of bringing fresh cases on themselves.

“I’m actually more worried about how, if those spikes occur, how that information will be weaponized against the notion of protests,” he said.

Eisenman called protesting an “essential activity,” possible to practice with reduced risk. He said his grown children protested in Los Angeles and are taking safety precautions now, including isolating themselves at home. They plan to get tested for COVID-19 in about a week.

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, said the hospitalizations for coronavirus in the Washington metro area have been on the decline but that she knows that could change.

“There are a lot of unknowns about what happens next,” she said.

Wen was the health commissioner for the city of Baltimore during the 2015 uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and said many health clinics were closed and pharmacies burned down, making it difficult for members of disadvantaged communities to access health care.

“You will have compounded health issues that go beyond COVID-19,” she said.

Public health experts said it will take two to three weeks to know whether the protests cause a surge in coronavirus cases. And even then, they can’t definitively tie it to the demonstrations.

The unrest is happening in tandem with the reopening of gyms, hair salons, restaurants, parks and beaches. It also comes on the heels of the Memorial Day weekend, when many people attended large gatherings, so experts already were bracing for a case increase, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

In Los Angeles, barbershops and in-person dining were allowed to resume last weekend, just as protests descended into destruction and more than 1,000 people were arrested. Nearly 10,000 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County in the past week.

Hundreds of people also were arrested in Chicago, where Cook County has had among the highest per capita rates of new cases of any large county in the nation, with 283 new cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.

“The absolute number of cases is still high. We feel good about the fact that we’ve established a decreasing incidence, but we have a ways to go,” said Dr. Ronald Hershow the director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Hershow and others noted that the racial disparities laid bare by coronavirus — with communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of infections and deaths — overlap with the issues being protested on streets across America and around the globe.

“Racism kills,” Hershow said. “Sometimes that’s direct, as in the case of George Floyd. And sometimes it’s through a virus like COVID-19.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590799948580.png" alt="Crowds protesting last weekend in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Crowds protesting last weekend in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm — the close proximity of protesters and their failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new transmissions of the coronavirus.Many of the protests broke out in places where the virus is still circulating widely in the population. In fact, an Associated Press review found that demonstrations have taken place in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new cases. Some have seen major protests over multiple days, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.The protests have come just as communities across the nation loosen restrictions on businesses and public life that have helped slow the spread of the virus, deepening concern that the two factors taken together could create a national resurgence in cases.“As a nation, we have to be concerned about a rebound,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser warned Sunday after days of protests rocked the nation’s capital. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo bemoaned the crowds, saying that hundreds could potentially have been infected, undoing months of social distancing.A fresh outbreak in the places where protesters gathered could lead to reinstituting shutdowns.The AP’s review focused on large metro counties — the central counties within metro areas with more than 1 million people — that showed the highest rates of new cases per capita over the past 14 days.While case numbers and deaths have been trending down in several of the cities where the largest protests have occurred, the number of people in those places infected with the virus — and with the ability to spread it — remains high. And in some of the communities, such as Minneapolis, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been rising.Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes, even as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Minneapolis has been ground zero for the sprawling protests, which have crossed the Mississippi River into neighboring St. Paul.The unrest has coincided with “the very worst days of the pandemic so far” in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.“Our ICU bed care is at its all-time high and is really on the edge,” he said.Ramsey and Hennepin counties, home to the Twin Cities, ranked seventh and eighth for the highest per capita new cases in the AP analysis. Each has seen more than 250 cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, together reporting nearly 2,000 new cases in the last week alone.Experts point out that other factors associated with protests could accelerate the spread of the virus. For instance, tear gas can cause people to cough and sneeze, as can the smoke from fires set by people bent on destruction. And both also prompt protesters to remove their masks.Crowding protesters who have been arrested into jail cells can also increase the risk of contagion. An AP tally found that, thus far, more than 5,600 people have been taken into custody.Protesters and police shouting at one another nose-to-nose also is raising alarms.Osterholm and other public health experts note, however, that the protests aren’t necessarily as alarming as other events that could fuel new cases because they take place outside and many people are wearing masks. In some cases, hand sanitizer also is being informally distributed.And Dr. David Eisenman, director of the Center for Public Health and Disasters at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said he feared partisan forces might accuse cities of bringing fresh cases on themselves.“I’m actually more worried about how, if those spikes occur, how that information will be weaponized against the notion of protests,” he said.Eisenman called protesting an “essential activity,” possible to practice with reduced risk. He said his grown children protested in Los Angeles and are taking safety precautions now, including isolating themselves at home. They plan to get tested for COVID-19 in about a week.Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, said the hospitalizations for coronavirus in the Washington metro area have been on the decline but that she knows that could change.“There are a lot of unknowns about what happens next,” she said.Wen was the health commissioner for the city of Baltimore during the 2015 uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and said many health clinics were closed and pharmacies burned down, making it difficult for members of disadvantaged communities to access health care.It’s a concern for her now, too.“You will have compounded health issues that go beyond COVID-19,” she said.Public health experts said it will take two to three weeks to know whether the protests cause a surge in coronavirus cases. And even then, they can’t definitively tie it to the demonstrations.The unrest is happening in tandem with the reopening of gyms, hair salons, restaurants, parks and beaches. It also comes on the heels of the Memorial Day weekend, when many people attended large gatherings, so experts already were bracing for a case increase, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.In Los Angeles, barbershops and in-person dining were allowed to resume last weekend, just as protests descended into destruction and more than 1,000 people were arrested. Nearly 10,000 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County in the past week.Hundreds of people also were arrested in Chicago, where Cook County has had among the highest per capita rates of new cases of any large county in the nation, with 283 new cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.“The absolute number of cases is still high. We feel good about the fact that we’ve established a decreasing incidence, but we have a ways to go,” said Dr. Ronald Hershow the director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois-Chicago.Hershow and others noted that the racial disparities laid bare by coronavirus — with communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of infections and deaths — overlap with the issues being protested on streets across America and around the globe.“Racism kills,” Hershow said. “Sometimes that’s direct, as in the case of George Floyd. And sometimes it’s through a virus like COVID-19.”___

Protests in top virus hot spots ignite fears of contagion

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man who initially was arrested after throwing water bottles at police officers during protests at the Country Club Plaza was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

“Hijacking a peaceful protest by attacking police officers engaged in their duty to protect the public carries significant consequences in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “Illegally carrying a loaded handgun to a public demonstration multiplies those consequences with federal penalties. I have no tolerance for anyone who hides behind the lawful exercise of constitutional rights as cover for their criminal acts. We are working alongside our local law enforcement partners to protect the public and maintain order.”&nbsp;

Matthew E. Madden, 22, Kansas City, Kan., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

Today’s criminal complaint alleges that Madden, who is a habitual user of, or addicted to, marijuana, was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on June 2, 2020.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Madden traveled from Kansas City, Kansas, to participate in the protests at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 2. During the protests over the previous five days, police officers who monitored the crowd and participated in crowd control reported some violent protesters threw bottles and rocks at them, causing injury to officers and damage to personal and public property. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers observed Madden throwing water bottles at officers who were providing security in the area of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Later the same evening, officers observed Madden throwing waters bottles from the southwest corner of Mill Creek Park (located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway).

Police officers approached Madden as he walked away from the crowd and asked him to stop so they could talk to him. &nbsp;Madden immediately ran away through the park, but officers captured him near a tree line on the east side of the park. During the pursuit, an officer saw Madden discard the black fanny pack that he had been previously observed carrying over his shoulder. Officers recovered the fanny pack, which contained a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with 15 round of ammunition, another magazine containing an additional 27 rounds of ammunition, and 1.23 grams of marijuana. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476241354.png" alt="Madden -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Madden -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man who initially was arrested after throwing water bottles at police officers during protests at the Country Club Plaza was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney's office.“Hijacking a peaceful protest by attacking police officers engaged in their duty to protect the public carries significant consequences in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “Illegally carrying a loaded handgun to a public demonstration multiplies those consequences with federal penalties. I have no tolerance for anyone who hides behind the lawful exercise of constitutional rights as cover for their criminal acts. We are working alongside our local law enforcement partners to protect the public and maintain order.”&nbsp;Matthew E. Madden, 22, Kansas City, Kan., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.Today’s criminal complaint alleges that Madden, who is a habitual user of, or addicted to, marijuana, was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on June 2, 2020.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="Protest marchers at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protest marchers at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Madden traveled from Kansas City, Kansas, to participate in the protests at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 2. During the protests over the previous five days, police officers who monitored the crowd and participated in crowd control reported some violent protesters threw bottles and rocks at them, causing injury to officers and damage to personal and public property. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers observed Madden throwing water bottles at officers who were providing security in the area of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Later the same evening, officers observed Madden throwing waters bottles from the southwest corner of Mill Creek Park (located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway).Police officers approached Madden as he walked away from the crowd and asked him to stop so they could talk to him. &nbsp;Madden immediately ran away through the park, but officers captured him near a tree line on the east side of the park. During the pursuit, an officer saw Madden discard the black fanny pack that he had been previously observed carrying over his shoulder. Officers recovered the fanny pack, which contained a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with 15 round of ammunition, another magazine containing an additional 27 rounds of ammunition, and 1.23 grams of marijuana. &nbsp;

Kansas man charged with bringing gun to protest march

TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.

On Friday, officers responded to the 2100 block of SW Edgewater Terrace in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

The victim, an adult female, sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident.

Officers developed information at the scene and an attempt to locate was issued for 37-yearold Victorio G. Peres. Peres is known to the victim.

Just after 2:30a.m. Sunday, police located him in the 1000 block of SW Garfield Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested&nbsp;charges of Aggravated Battery and Battery, according to Koenen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591567651175.png" alt="Peres" />
 <figcaption>Peres</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.On Friday, officers responded to the 2100 block of SW Edgewater Terrace in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.The victim, an adult female, sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident.Officers developed information at the scene and an attempt to locate was issued for 37-yearold Victorio G. Peres. Peres is known to the victim.Just after 2:30a.m. Sunday, police located him in the 1000 block of SW Garfield Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested&nbsp;charges of Aggravated Battery and Battery, according to Koenen.

Police: Kansas man accused in violent knife attack on woman

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Three civil rights organizations say they will continue to pressure Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith to resign over long-simmering tension between police and minorities in the city, despite procedural changes announced this week.

The Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and More2 issued a statement Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8fd5d3554646ec3a353ebd16e96e4359">calling&nbsp;</a>for Smith's resignation because of his handling of excessive force complaints and police actions during recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=apnews.comb51e6c727b5b749fa9b29080364ab03d">several changes</a>&nbsp;to police procedures designed to improve accountability and oversight of the Police Department, including having outside agencies investigate all officer-involved shootings.

The Rev. Dr. Rodney Williams, president of the Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, said Friday that the proposed changes are appreciated but that the coalition wants to see entirely new police leadership, beginning with Smith's resignation.

“(The changes) are hopeful but we need to see them actually become reality," Williams said. “This is not just about the protests, this goes much further. We do not believe police are protecting the constitutional rights of African Americans and the head of that agency needs to resign.”

Smith has said he doesn't intend to resign and Lucas said Thursday that Smith will remain as police chief. Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, called the requests for Smith's resignation “ridiculous."

The tension comes after a week of protests over the death of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck for several minutes even after he stopped movign and pleading for air.

During the first days of protests, violence erupted after dark. Police used tear gas and made several arrests. The protests have been relatively calm since Tuesday, when police changed tactics to “de-escalate” the tension.

The calm continued Friday, when several hundred people gathered in downtown Kansas City to hear speeches and demonstrate in front of City Hall, the Police Department and the Jackson County Courthouse — a change of scene from earlier protests at the Country Club Plaza and Westport entertainment districts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591275596951.png" alt="Chief Rick Smith and Mayor Lucas spoke to the media prior to a protest march last week" />
 <figcaption>Chief Rick Smith and Mayor Lucas spoke to the media prior to a protest march last week</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Three civil rights organizations say they will continue to pressure Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith to resign over long-simmering tension between police and minorities in the city, despite procedural changes announced this week.The Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and More2 issued a statement Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8fd5d3554646ec3a353ebd16e96e4359">calling&nbsp;</a>for Smith's resignation because of his handling of excessive force complaints and police actions during recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=apnews.comb51e6c727b5b749fa9b29080364ab03d">several changes</a>&nbsp;to police procedures designed to improve accountability and oversight of the Police Department, including having outside agencies investigate all officer-involved shootings.The Rev. Dr. Rodney Williams, president of the Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, said Friday that the proposed changes are appreciated but that the coalition wants to see entirely new police leadership, beginning with Smith's resignation.“(The changes) are hopeful but we need to see them actually become reality," Williams said. “This is not just about the protests, this goes much further. We do not believe police are protecting the constitutional rights of African Americans and the head of that agency needs to resign.”Smith has said he doesn't intend to resign and Lucas said Thursday that Smith will remain as police chief. Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, called the requests for Smith's resignation “ridiculous."The tension comes after a week of protests over the death of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck for several minutes even after he stopped movign and pleading for air.During the first days of protests, violence erupted after dark. Police used tear gas and made several arrests. The protests have been relatively calm since Tuesday, when police changed tactics to “de-escalate” the tension.The calm continued Friday, when several hundred people gathered in downtown Kansas City to hear speeches and demonstrate in front of City Hall, the Police Department and the Jackson County Courthouse — a change of scene from earlier protests at the Country Club Plaza and Westport entertainment districts.

Groups still want Kansas City police chief to be ousted

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Residents gathered for a protest march down Main Street in Hutchinson Saturday morning. The march, spearheaded by local resident Teresa Delgado was going to be held Friday but after social media posts showed the event could be threatened, it was postponed until Saturday.

The decision for the postponement came after Delgado met with law enforcement and others. Police still urged organizers to cancel the event to another day but the march went on peacefully. The march started at 30th and Main then stopped at the intersection of 25th and Main where the group knelt for nine minutes before continuing south for several more blocks before turning back north.

The group of about 40 participants were peaceful and were heavily supported by law enforcement who had patrol cars in front and back of the group as well as officers blocking each intersection as the group passed by. Police did have word there could be some counter-protests or trouble from outside Hutchinson but nothing materialized. The Highway Patrol, South Hutchinson Police, and the Reno County Sheriff's department were all on hand.

Many residents supported the march by offering water on a hot day or displaying signs of support. Others drove by and honked in support. Some business owners stood in front of their buildings and one restaurant closed for the day and boarded up their doors and windows.

The group was marching to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police. All four officers have now been arrested and charged in that case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591464071734.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Residents gathered for a protest march down Main Street in Hutchinson Saturday morning. The march, spearheaded by local resident Teresa Delgado was going to be held Friday but after social media posts showed the event could be threatened, it was postponed until Saturday.The decision for the postponement came after Delgado met with law enforcement and others. Police still urged organizers to cancel the event to another day but the march went on peacefully. The march started at 30th and Main then stopped at the intersection of 25th and Main where the group knelt for nine minutes before continuing south for several more blocks before turning back north.The group of about 40 participants were peaceful and were heavily supported by law enforcement who had patrol cars in front and back of the group as well as officers blocking each intersection as the group passed by. Police did have word there could be some counter-protests or trouble from outside Hutchinson but nothing materialized. The Highway Patrol, South Hutchinson Police, and the Reno County Sheriff's department were all on hand.Many residents supported the march by offering water on a hot day or displaying signs of support. Others drove by and honked in support. Some business owners stood in front of their buildings and one restaurant closed for the day and boarded up their doors and windows.The group was marching to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police. All four officers have now been arrested and charged in that case.

Small gathering for postponed protest march in Hutchinson

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri NAACP and black lawmakers on Friday urged a new investigation into the death of an African American jail inmate who died in 2017 in a similar circumstance to George Floyd — with a white law enforcement officer's knee on his neck.

Tory Sanders, 28, died at the Mississippi County Jail in rural Charleston, Missouri, about 150 miles south of St. Louis. He had several encounters with officers while jailed and a mental health counselor determined he was suffering from paranoia. Sheriff Cory Hutcheson and eight others then entered the cell to subdue him.

A wrongful death lawsuit said Hutcheson jammed his knee against Sanders’ neck and kept it there for up to three minutes, even as a police officer urged him to stop. Sanders fell into unconsciousness and died.

Missouri’s attorney general at the time, Josh Hawley, investigated but declined to file charges after medical experts concluded that Sanders died of “excited delirium,” not from the knee to the neck or other efforts to control him.

During a news conference Friday, Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel Jr. urged Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney Darren Cann to file murder charges against Hutcheson and other officers.

But Cann, in a phone interview, said he turned the case over to the attorney general's office in 2017 because of a conflict of interest — one of his employees is related to Hutcheson. That conflict still exists, so it would be up to the attorney general's office to reopen the case, Cann said.

Eric Schmitt took over as attorney general after Hawley, a Republican, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Schmitt's spokesman, Chris Nuele, said in a statement that the attorney general "is committed to thoroughly reviewing all existing and any new evidence to determine whether to reopen the matter. Additionally, we hope to sit down with the NAACP and other interested parties to discuss further.”

Phone and email messages left with Hawley’s office were not immediately returned.

Hutcheson does not have a listed phone number and a phone message left with his attorney was not immediately returned.

<a href="https://apnews.com/9157e1bdc0f99797bcdc25e6f243aa19">Floyd’s death on May 25</a>&nbsp;sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/05476b9620f2b5f9900e16ccc8dc3a75">nationwide protests</a>. Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder after bystander video showed him holding his knee to Floyd's neck even as the man pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. The video has sparked protests against police brutality and discrimination around the world.

Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis said Missourians can't ignore such a similar case “in our own back yard.”

"In light of what’s happening today in the protests, people who are part of this system of injustice need to be prosecuted in this case,” May said.

The state NAACP issued a MIssouri&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/88cbad1851044cbd840859f3f48ed0c8">“travel advisory”&nbsp;</a>in July 2017 over concerns about whether travelers' civil rights would be respected. The resolution cited legislative action such as passage of a bill weakening the state’s anti-discrimination law, as well as Sanders’ death and racist incidents.

Sanders, of Nashville, Tennessee, ran out of gas on May 4, 2017, in southern Missouri, then hitchhiked and ended up in Charleston.

A day later, Sanders went to the police and told officers there was a warrant out for his arrest in Nashville related to an altercation with the mother of his children. The wrongful death lawsuit said Sanders also told officers: “I need to see a mental health doctor to save my life and my kids’ life.”

He was taken to the jail, where a mental health counselor concluded Sanders was suffering from paranoia as a result of substance abuse, and that he should be hospitalized for observation. But he remained in his cell.

That night, Hutcheson led a team of officers and jailers, wearing helmets and vests and holding a large shield, into Sanders’ cell, according to the lawsuit. Sanders was tackled, pepper sprayed, hit with a stun gun and punched while “pleading for help and struggling to stay alive," the lawsuit stated.

According to the lawsuit, Hutcheson pressed his left knee on top of Sanders’ neck. A Charleston police officer told Hutcheson at least three times to remove the pressure.

“No, I’m good,” the sheriff responded.

“No lifesaving measures were taken” after Sanders stopped breathing, the suit stated. Emergency medical personnel arrived and took him to a hospital, where he died a short time later.

Though not charged in Sanders’ death, Hutcheson now 36, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bb92210c8dd64deab08588292ae319bd">sentenced last year to six months in federal prison</a>&nbsp;for unrelated crimes: wire fraud and identity theft. He resigned after pleading guilty and can no longer work as a law enforcement officer.

Federal prosecutors said Hutcheson used a fraudulent process to track the whereabouts of more than 200 cellphone users, including a judge and a former sheriff. He never explained his motive.

Hutcheson was elected in 2016. The former deputy ran on a pledge to attack the drug culture that permeated his county. Hutcheson arrested 88 drug dealers in his first 90 days as sheriff, his attorney said at Hutcheson's sentencing.

But Hutcheson himself was arrested in April 2017, just three months into his term. In addition to the cellphone tracking allegations, he was accused of roughing up a 77-year-old beauty salon owner in a dispute over Hutcheson's sister-in-law's paycheck. The woman suffered a heart attack during the encounter but recovered.

The state charges were dropped as part of the federal plea agreement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591384783668.png" alt="Cory Hutcheson-photo&nbsp;Cape Girardeau County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Cory Hutcheson-photo&nbsp;Cape Girardeau County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri NAACP and black lawmakers on Friday urged a new investigation into the death of an African American jail inmate who died in 2017 in a similar circumstance to George Floyd — with a white law enforcement officer's knee on his neck.Tory Sanders, 28, died at the Mississippi County Jail in rural Charleston, Missouri, about 150 miles south of St. Louis. He had several encounters with officers while jailed and a mental health counselor determined he was suffering from paranoia. Sheriff Cory Hutcheson and eight others then entered the cell to subdue him.A wrongful death lawsuit said Hutcheson jammed his knee against Sanders’ neck and kept it there for up to three minutes, even as a police officer urged him to stop. Sanders fell into unconsciousness and died.Missouri’s attorney general at the time, Josh Hawley, investigated but declined to file charges after medical experts concluded that Sanders died of “excited delirium,” not from the knee to the neck or other efforts to control him.During a news conference Friday, Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel Jr. urged Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney Darren Cann to file murder charges against Hutcheson and other officers.But Cann, in a phone interview, said he turned the case over to the attorney general's office in 2017 because of a conflict of interest — one of his employees is related to Hutcheson. That conflict still exists, so it would be up to the attorney general's office to reopen the case, Cann said.Eric Schmitt took over as attorney general after Hawley, a Republican, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Schmitt's spokesman, Chris Nuele, said in a statement that the attorney general "is committed to thoroughly reviewing all existing and any new evidence to determine whether to reopen the matter. Additionally, we hope to sit down with the NAACP and other interested parties to discuss further.”Phone and email messages left with Hawley’s office were not immediately returned.Hutcheson does not have a listed phone number and a phone message left with his attorney was not immediately returned.<a href="https://apnews.com/9157e1bdc0f99797bcdc25e6f243aa19">Floyd’s death on May 25</a>&nbsp;sparked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/05476b9620f2b5f9900e16ccc8dc3a75">nationwide protests</a>. Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder after bystander video showed him holding his knee to Floyd's neck even as the man pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. The video has sparked protests against police brutality and discrimination around the world.Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis said Missourians can't ignore such a similar case “in our own back yard.”"In light of what’s happening today in the protests, people who are part of this system of injustice need to be prosecuted in this case,” May said.The state NAACP issued a MIssouri&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/88cbad1851044cbd840859f3f48ed0c8">“travel advisory”&nbsp;</a>in July 2017 over concerns about whether travelers' civil rights would be respected. The resolution cited legislative action such as passage of a bill weakening the state’s anti-discrimination law, as well as Sanders’ death and racist incidents.Sanders, of Nashville, Tennessee, ran out of gas on May 4, 2017, in southern Missouri, then hitchhiked and ended up in Charleston.A day later, Sanders went to the police and told officers there was a warrant out for his arrest in Nashville related to an altercation with the mother of his children. The wrongful death lawsuit said Sanders also told officers: “I need to see a mental health doctor to save my life and my kids’ life.”He was taken to the jail, where a mental health counselor concluded Sanders was suffering from paranoia as a result of substance abuse, and that he should be hospitalized for observation. But he remained in his cell.That night, Hutcheson led a team of officers and jailers, wearing helmets and vests and holding a large shield, into Sanders’ cell, according to the lawsuit. Sanders was tackled, pepper sprayed, hit with a stun gun and punched while “pleading for help and struggling to stay alive," the lawsuit stated.According to the lawsuit, Hutcheson pressed his left knee on top of Sanders’ neck. A Charleston police officer told Hutcheson at least three times to remove the pressure.“No, I’m good,” the sheriff responded.“No lifesaving measures were taken” after Sanders stopped breathing, the suit stated. Emergency medical personnel arrived and took him to a hospital, where he died a short time later.Though not charged in Sanders’ death, Hutcheson now 36, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bb92210c8dd64deab08588292ae319bd">sentenced last year to six months in federal prison</a>&nbsp;for unrelated crimes: wire fraud and identity theft. He resigned after pleading guilty and can no longer work as a law enforcement officer.Federal prosecutors said Hutcheson used a fraudulent process to track the whereabouts of more than 200 cellphone users, including a judge and a former sheriff. He never explained his motive.Hutcheson was elected in 2016. The former deputy ran on a pledge to attack the drug culture that permeated his county. Hutcheson arrested 88 drug dealers in his first 90 days as sheriff, his attorney said at Hutcheson's sentencing.But Hutcheson himself was arrested in April 2017, just three months into his term. In addition to the cellphone tracking allegations, he was accused of roughing up a 77-year-old beauty salon owner in a dispute over Hutcheson's sister-in-law's paycheck. The woman suffered a heart attack during the encounter but recovered.The state charges were dropped as part of the federal plea agreement.

Comparisons drawn between Floyd's death and Missouri case

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the unlawful assembly following a protest march that occurred at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas in Wichita on Monday and have made an arrest.

&nbsp;Henry Parker, 28, Wichita, is in custody on requested charges of two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, 20 counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, one count of discharge a firearm at an occupied vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm and outstanding warrants, according to officer Charley Davidson.

According to police, Parker fired multiple shots at responding officers, and one officer’s helmet was struck by bullet pieces that had ricocheted near the officers.&nbsp; A second officer's helmet is believed to have been grazed by a bullet.&nbsp;

Through witness interviews, technology, and community tips, Parker was identified in being involved with the shooting.&nbsp; On Thursday, Parker was located in the 3800 block of West 21st,&nbsp;and he was arrested without incident.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Additionally, Parker has previously been arrested and convicted on charges of fleeing and eluding law enforcement, theft, criminal possession of a firearm on school property, aggravated weapons violations, felon in possession of a firearm, and criminal threats.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591371389592.png" alt="Parker" />
 <figcaption>Parker</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the unlawful assembly following a protest march that occurred at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas in Wichita on Monday and have made an arrest.&nbsp;Henry Parker, 28, Wichita, is in custody on requested charges of two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, 20 counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, one count of discharge a firearm at an occupied vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm and outstanding warrants, according to officer Charley Davidson.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWichitaPolice%2Fvideos%2F529036301099374%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>According to police, Parker fired multiple shots at responding officers, and one officer’s helmet was struck by bullet pieces that had ricocheted near the officers.&nbsp; A second officer's helmet is believed to have been grazed by a bullet.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591127610629.png" alt="Officer's helmet grazed by a bullet -photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Officer's helmet grazed by a bullet -photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Through witness interviews, technology, and community tips, Parker was identified in being involved with the shooting.&nbsp; On Thursday, Parker was located in the 3800 block of West 21st,&nbsp;and he was arrested without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, Parker has previously been arrested and convicted on charges of fleeing and eluding law enforcement, theft, criminal possession of a firearm on school property, aggravated weapons violations, felon in possession of a firearm, and criminal threats.

🎥  Police: Kan. felon allegedly shot at officers after protest march

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges following a drug bust.

Just before 4p.m. Thursday, the Great Bend Police Department, with the assistance of Ellinwood Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Office, executed a burglary and narcotics search warrant at a residence located at 205 N. Wilhelm Street in Ellinwood as part of an ongoing burglary and narcotics investigation, according to a media release.

During the execution of the search warrant, resident Alicia D. Hoeffner, 39, was located inside the residence.

During a thorough search of the residence, methamphetamine, marijuana and items of illegal drug paraphernalia were located. 

Hoeffner was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hoeffner was transported to the Barton County Detention Center and booked in lieu of bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591381497635.png" alt="Alicia Hoeffner has 3 previous drug convictions and one for Furnishing cereal malt beverage to minor, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Hoeffner has 3 previous drug convictions and one for Furnishing cereal malt beverage to minor, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges following a drug bust.Just before 4p.m. Thursday, the Great Bend Police Department, with the assistance of Ellinwood Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff's Office, executed a burglary and narcotics search warrant at a residence located at 205 N. Wilhelm Street in Ellinwood as part of an ongoing burglary and narcotics investigation, according to a media release.During the execution of the search warrant, resident Alicia D. Hoeffner, 39, was located inside the residence.During a thorough search of the residence, methamphetamine, marijuana and items of illegal drug paraphernalia were located. Hoeffner was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hoeffner was transported to the Barton County Detention Center and booked in lieu of bond.

Police arrest Kansas felon during Barton Co. drug investigation

SALINA —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported hit and run incident have made an arrest.

Just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 1200 Block of Andrew Avenue in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester

Officers found Ronika Trembley, 45, of Salina, lying in the roadway with a large amount of blood around her.

Trembley had been visiting with a 23-year-old from Minneapolis, in the front yard of a residence when a blue, four-door Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, with a Kansas tag and the numbers 800, pulled up and three younger occupants, two men and a woman, asked for some street addresses, according to Forrester.

Trembley went out to the pickup to talk with the trio. At some point during the conversation, she walked in front of the vehicle and the pickup took off, striking Trembley and also a 2005 Chevrolet Venture van.

Trembley suffered from a head injury. EMS transported her Salina Regional Health Center. She was later transported to a Wichita hospital.

During the investigation, police uncovered evidence that led them to believe that the incident possibly was a drug transaction that had gone bad, according to Forrester.&nbsp; Police received information that Koltton Glavin, 24, of Beverly, was the driver of the pickup and that the pickup was at a south Salina restaurant. Officers responded to that location, Glavin exited the restaurant, and was taken into custody.

Through the investigation, police learned that Glavin had been contacted by one of the women at the Andrew Avenue address who wanted to purchase methamphetamine, Forrester explained. When Glavin and the other two arrived in the pickup at the Andrew Avenue location, they presented Trembley with what was presumed to be ice cream salt and they were paid $450, Forrester said. Trembley then realized that what they had sold her was not methamphetamine and she attempted to grab onto the pickup as Glavin drove off, Forrester explained.

Trembley remains in a Wichita hospital with a head injury, facial lascerations, and a broken pelvis, he said.

Glavin is being held on requested charges, aggravated battery, distribution of a simulated controlled substance, theft by deception,&nbsp;&nbsp;criminal damage to property

Charges for the other two occupants of the pickup are forthcoming, according to Forrester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591364238896.jpeg" alt="Glavin photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Glavin photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA —Law enforcement authorities investigating a reported hit and run incident have made an arrest.Just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the 1200 Block of Andrew Avenue in Salina, according to Police Captain Paul ForresterOfficers found Ronika Trembley, 45, of Salina, lying in the roadway with a large amount of blood around her.Trembley had been visiting with a 23-year-old from Minneapolis, in the front yard of a residence when a blue, four-door Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, with a Kansas tag and the numbers 800, pulled up and three younger occupants, two men and a woman, asked for some street addresses, according to Forrester.Trembley went out to the pickup to talk with the trio. At some point during the conversation, she walked in front of the vehicle and the pickup took off, striking Trembley and also a 2005 Chevrolet Venture van.Trembley suffered from a head injury. EMS transported her Salina Regional Health Center. She was later transported to a Wichita hospital.During the investigation, police uncovered evidence that led them to believe that the incident possibly was a drug transaction that had gone bad, according to Forrester.&nbsp; Police received information that Koltton Glavin, 24, of Beverly, was the driver of the pickup and that the pickup was at a south Salina restaurant. Officers responded to that location, Glavin exited the restaurant, and was taken into custody.Through the investigation, police learned that Glavin had been contacted by one of the women at the Andrew Avenue address who wanted to purchase methamphetamine, Forrester explained. When Glavin and the other two arrived in the pickup at the Andrew Avenue location, they presented Trembley with what was presumed to be ice cream salt and they were paid $450, Forrester said. Trembley then realized that what they had sold her was not methamphetamine and she attempted to grab onto the pickup as Glavin drove off, Forrester explained.Trembley remains in a Wichita hospital with a head injury, facial lascerations, and a broken pelvis, he said.Glavin is being held on requested charges, aggravated battery, distribution of a simulated controlled substance, theft by deception,&nbsp;&nbsp;criminal damage to propertyCharges for the other two occupants of the pickup are forthcoming, according to Forrester.

Kan. man arrested for reported hit and run that sent woman to hospital

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a wild drive at the scene of where protest violence had occurred this week in Wichita.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police who were proactively patrolling the area near W. 21st Street and N. Arkansas Avenue, observed a suspect identified as 23-year-old Dylan Yohe driving a maroon Dodge Dakota, according to officer Kevin Wheeler

Yohe was known by officers to have a revoked driver’s license and conducted a traffic stop at Franklin and Nims Street.

During the traffic stop, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, an open liquor bottle and a knife in the vehicle.

Police arrested him on requested charges of DUI, driving while revoked, transport open container, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and an aggravated weapons violation, according to Wheeler.

&nbsp;Yohe has previously been arrested and convicted on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, and traffic charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591289433873.png" alt="Yohe -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Yohe -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for a wild drive at the scene of where protest violence had occurred this week in Wichita.Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police who were proactively patrolling the area near W. 21st Street and N. Arkansas Avenue, observed a suspect identified as 23-year-old Dylan Yohe driving a maroon Dodge Dakota, according to officer Kevin WheelerYohe was known by officers to have a revoked driver’s license and conducted a traffic stop at Franklin and Nims Street.During the traffic stop, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, an open liquor bottle and a knife in the vehicle.Police arrested him on requested charges of DUI, driving while revoked, transport open container, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and an aggravated weapons violation, according to Wheeler.&nbsp;Yohe has previously been arrested and convicted on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, and traffic charges.

Kan. felon jailed for wild drive near scene of protest violence 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City is reforming police procedures after criticism from black organizations about police conduct during nearly a week of protests as well as long-standing tension between the department and minorities, the mayor announced Thursday.

A coalition of civil rights organizations demanded Wednesday that Police Chief Rick Smith be fired. But Mayor Quinton Lucas said Smith would remain "as we weather our current crisis and also as we continue to address our issues related to violent crime and the high number of homicides in Kansas City.”

Lucas said after a closed meeting of the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners that the city would ask an outside agency to review all police-involved shootings; create whistleblower protections for officers; end a department policy of not sending probable cause statements to prosecutors in officer-involved shootings; review officers' use of tear gas and projectiles; and provide updates to the city council on the department's community engagement efforts.

Lucas said he hoped a review of tear gas and projectile use would lead to a new policy in the near future.

The city announced Wednesday that $2.5 million in private funding has been donated to buy police body cameras.

Lucas said the changes addressed long-standing issues, not only concerns raised during the protests over the death of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police on May 25.

“It also recognizes that this moment is not about individual protests on the plaza or in Kansas City," Lucas said. “But instead how we can modernize policing, how we can build trust between police and our communities, and frankly, how we can help solve many of the challenges we have in Kansas City’s violent crime.”

The announcement came shortly after Jackson County’s prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, said she was reaching out to Kansas City protesters claiming to be victims of police misconduct, urging them to report their allegations online.

Peaceful daytime demonstrations in Kansas City often have devolved into violence at night. Police have been pelted with rocks and bottles, and officers have used pepper spray and tear gas on protesters. On Thursday, 22-year-old Matthew Madden, who initially was arrested on suspicion of throwing water bottles at police officers during Tuesday's protests, was charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591353068022.png" alt="Mayor Quinton Lucas listening to peaceful protest in Kansas City last week-image courtesy Mayor Lucas" />
 <figcaption>Mayor Quinton Lucas listening to peaceful protest in Kansas City last week-image courtesy Mayor Lucas</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City is reforming police procedures after criticism from black organizations about police conduct during nearly a week of protests as well as long-standing tension between the department and minorities, the mayor announced Thursday.A coalition of civil rights organizations demanded Wednesday that Police Chief Rick Smith be fired. But Mayor Quinton Lucas said Smith would remain "as we weather our current crisis and also as we continue to address our issues related to violent crime and the high number of homicides in Kansas City.”Lucas said after a closed meeting of the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners that the city would ask an outside agency to review all police-involved shootings; create whistleblower protections for officers; end a department policy of not sending probable cause statements to prosecutors in officer-involved shootings; review officers' use of tear gas and projectiles; and provide updates to the city council on the department's community engagement efforts.Lucas said he hoped a review of tear gas and projectile use would lead to a new policy in the near future.The city announced Wednesday that $2.5 million in private funding has been donated to buy police body cameras.Lucas said the changes addressed long-standing issues, not only concerns raised during the protests over the death of George Floyd, the handcuffed black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police on May 25.“It also recognizes that this moment is not about individual protests on the plaza or in Kansas City," Lucas said. “But instead how we can modernize policing, how we can build trust between police and our communities, and frankly, how we can help solve many of the challenges we have in Kansas City’s violent crime.”The announcement came shortly after Jackson County’s prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, said she was reaching out to Kansas City protesters claiming to be victims of police misconduct, urging them to report their allegations online.Peaceful daytime demonstrations in Kansas City often have devolved into violence at night. Police have been pelted with rocks and bottles, and officers have used pepper spray and tear gas on protesters. On Thursday, 22-year-old Matthew Madden, who initially was arrested on suspicion of throwing water bottles at police officers during Tuesday's protests, was charged in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm.But demonstrations have grown calmer, with protesters marching peacefully Thursday night through the upscale Country Club Plaza restaurant and shopping district without any sign of a police presence.“We have already asked for an investigation of one incident in which protesters were pepper-sprayed by police,” Baker’s office said. Video shared on social media showed a confrontation Wednesday during a protest at the Country Club Plaza in which officers appeared to use pepper spray on two protesters after one of them yelled at police.Baker stressed that her office has not filed charges against protesters arrested for minor offenses such as walking on the street or stepping off a curb. Those charges, she said, were municipal counts filed by the city prosecutor’s office.Kansas City police have arrested about 200 people during the protests. Lucas said he would consider pardoning all nonviolent protesters.