BOURBON COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Thursday night near the Fort Scott National Cemetery, according to a media release.

Just after 11p.m. Thursday, the KBI was asked to assist the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office following an officer involved shooting that occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. in Fort Scott. KBI agents and a crime scene response team responded to conduct the investigation.

Preliminary information indicates that at 9:30 p.m. a Bourbon County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a report of a suspicious vehicle near Fort Scott Lake. After a search of the area, the deputy located a red Ford Ranger pickup and observed the driver running a stop sign. The deputy initiated a traffic stop, however the driver of the Ranger refused to stop and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

Officers from the Fort Scott Police Department joined the pursuit. At one time the chase was discontinued for safety reasons, and authorities lost contact with the Ford Ranger. They were able to locate the vehicle again and pursued it down a dead end dirt path east of the intersection of 230 St. and Kansas in rural Fort Scott. When the driver of the Ranger was unable to continue, he struck a Fort Scott Police Department vehicle while attempting to turn around. Then, the Ranger drove directly toward a Bourbon County Sheriff’s deputy who had parked and exited his vehicle. The deputy fired toward the Ranger, which then drove into a culvert, disabling the vehicle.

The occupant of the Ranger was not hit by gunfire. He was identified as 51-year-old David L. Baldwin of Nevada, Missouri.

Baldwin was taken into custody and then transported to Mercy Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. Upon release, he was booked into the Bourbon County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing or attempting to elude, and felony criminal damage to property, as well as well as other misdemeanor traffic violations.

No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident.  Baldwin has previous convictions in Missouri for vehicle theft, possession of firearms, receiving stolen property and tamp/attempt-victim during felony prosecution, according to the Missouri Dept. of Corrections

 
 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Latest on a suspicious package found at the IRS building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

A federal organization that responds to terrorism and criminal acts against U.S. government infrastructure is investigating after a suspicious package sickened about 10 people at the IRS building in Kansas City, Missouri.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman Lucy Martinez says agents with the Federal Protective Service responded to the building after the package was found Friday morning.

Two of the 10 people who complained of nausea and vomiting were taken to a hospital and were in good condition. The building was not evacuated and returned to normal business two hours after the incident began.

Martinez says a hazardous materials team took custody of the package. No other details have been released.

————-

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A fire official says about 10 people were sickened by a suspicious package in the mailroom of a sprawling IRS building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City Fire Department spokesman James Garrett says 10 people complained of feeling ill, including vomiting and sweating, after the package arrived at the building Friday. He says two people were taken to a hospital.

St. Luke’s Hospital spokeswoman Laurel Gifford says those victims are in good condition.

Garrett says the Fire Department was checking for gasses and fumes but hasn’t determined the package’s contents. He says the package was isolated from the public.

The building was not evacuated and has returned to business.

Garrett says the investigation has been turned over to the IRS and other federal authorities.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas zoo celebrated a special birthday Thursday.

Visitors to the Sedgwick County Zoo enjoyed watching the pink, princess birthday celebration for  1-year-old Alika, according to a social media report.

Zoo staff provided decorations, special cupcakes and other goodies for the western-lowland gorillas.

 

WICHITA — Spelling is a problem for the crew painting the water tower at Wichita State University. The University did not make the mistake. The city of Wichita did.

 

We are “sory” and will get it “fixted” “A S I P.” pic.twitter.com/aUZbopLmFG

— City of Wichita (@CityofWichita) August 4, 2017

The city had fun with the error. They shared a photo on social media.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker who advocates increasing pay for Kansas corrections officers is calling for a special session of the Legislature to do it immediately.

Rep. J.R. Claeys of Salina said Friday that he worries that staffing shortages at state prisons are putting officers at risk.

Claeys is chairman of a House budget subcommittee on public safety and said low pay for corrections officers is a major issue in staffing shortages. It starts at $13.95 an hour.

He said the state needs to get ahead of the issue before an officer is hurt or killed.

The state’s maximum-security prison in El Dorado has seen multiple inmate disturbances in the past three months. About 23 percent of its uniformed-officer positions were open as of Tuesday.

Lawmakers adjourned for the year in June.