SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –A Kansas man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine in the Joplin, Mo., area.

Jacob A. Beckham, 33, Topeka, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 12 years in federal prison without parole.

On July 26, 2017, Beckham pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, a detective with the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department saw Beckham, driving a black Ford Fusion, swerve over the yellow line several times on I-49 near Highway V on May 5, 2015. A deputy followed the vehicle to the parking lot of Shoal Creek Plaza and activated his vehicle’s emergency lights and siren. Beckham’s vehicle sped off and the deputy pursued him in a high-speed chase. During the chase, the deputy saw Beckham throw several items out of the vehicle, including a black and silver case.

When the vehicle came to a stop at a dead end near 6580 Hereford Road, Beckham attempted to flee on foot. The deputy caught Beckham after a short pursuit. When Beckham and the passengers in his vehicle were secured, law enforcement officers recovered the contents that were thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit. Those items included the black and silver case, nine clear baggies that contained a total of 167 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 22 bags with methamphetamine residue, two marijuana joints, seven cell phones and drug paraphernalia. Three passengers in the vehicle confirmed that Beckham threw the case that contained methamphetamine out of the car as he was being pursued by law enforcement.

Beckham admitted that prior to his encounter with law enforcement on May 5, 2015, he had been selling approximately two pounds or more of methamphetamine per month within the past year. Beckham is conservatively responsible for distributing approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine.

Beckham has five previous convictions for possession of methamphetamine.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a report of shoplifting and have two suspects in custody.

Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, officer responded to a report of shoplifting at Kohls in the 6900 Block of West Kellogg in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. When officers arrived, they saw two juvenile suspects fleeing from the store.

A 31-year-old employee of Best Buy observed the situation and approached the suspects to assist police. The suspect then brandished a hand gun and pointed at the man and continued to run, according to Davidson.

Police eventually caught and arrested the suspects. One was booked for theft and an outstanding warrant. The second suspect was booked for theft, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm for someone under the age of 18 and possession of stolen property, according to Davidson.

Police recovered the handgun. It had been stolen in Derby.

ATCHISON COUNTY — A Kansas man died in an accident just after 10a.m. Wednesday in Atchinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Olds Cutlass driven by Tracie E. Turpin, 53, Atchison, was northbound on U.S. 59 Highway.

The driver failed to negotiate the curve. The vehicle traveled across the roadway into the west ditch, down the embankment and struck a tree.

Passengers Michael E. Bruce, 56, Atchison, and Winfield, Martin L. Winfield, 49, Columbus, were transported to the hospital in Atchison where Bruce died.

Turpin and passengers Brandon M. Mottin, 31, Lancaster, were transported to the hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Winfield, Mottin and Bruce were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Charges have been dropped against a Lawrence man who was jailed for 1.5 years in a sex crimes case.

Fifty-one-year-old Tracy Releford was charged after an encounter in August 2016 encounter with a 16-year-old girl that moved between Lawrence and Kansas City, Missouri.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports a judge ruled in February that probable cause did not exist to charge Releford with two felonies. Prosecutors dropped a remaining misdemeanor charge but said the case could be refiled.

Trial assistant Jill Spurling says the state’s witness didn’t show up for the preliminary hearing.

The original charge of aggravated human trafficking was dismissed in March 2017.

Releford will be transferred to Missouri custody on another charge.

Releford is the father of a former University of Kansas basketball player Travis Releford.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has identified the man killed Monday evening in an officer involved shooting in Wamego, Kan.

Ethan M. Straub, 25, of Wamego, was confirmed as the individual killed during an exchange of gunfire with multiple law enforcement agencies in Wamego.

Just after 6 p.m. Monday, the Wamego Police Department requested KBI assistance to respond to and investigate a shooting. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday, law enforcement officers responded to the report of an armed carjacking at Kreem Kup Drive In, 601 W. Hwy 24 in Wamego. Law enforcement officers from several agencies made contact with the suspect at approximately 6 p.m. in the area of 8th St. and Pine St. Shortly after, gunfire was exchanged between the male suspect and five law enforcement officers from four agencies. The agencies who had officers fire during the incident were: the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, the Wamego Police Department, and the St. George Police Department.

EMS responded, however, Straub was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident, however, one officer was transported to the hospital as a precaution due to a health concern.

The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this incident. Once completed, the findings will be turned over to the Pottawatomie County Attorney for review.

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Monday evening in Wamego, according to a media release.

Just after 6 p.m., the Wamego Police Department requested KBI assistance to respond to and investigate a shooting. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday, law enforcement officers responded to the report of an armed carjacking at Kreem Kup Drive In, 601 W. Hwy 24 in Wamego. Law enforcement officers from several agencies made contact with the suspect at approximately 6 p.m. in the area of 8th St. and Pine St. Shortly after, gunfire was exchanged between the male suspect and five law enforcement officers from four agencies. The agencies who had officers fire during the incident were: the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, the Wamego Police Department, and the St. George Police Department.

EMS responded, however, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident, however, one officer was transported to the hospital as a precaution due to a health concern.

The deceased individual will be identified once his next of kin is notified. No further information will be released at this time.