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Month: February 2018

Man sentenced in deaths of Kansas mother, 3 kids

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PARSONS, Kan. (AP) — A former Montgomery County man was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the death of a southeast Kansas woman and her three children.

David Cornell Bennett, Jr-photo Montgomery Co.

The Kansas Attorney General says 26-year-old David Cornell Bennett Jr., formerly of Cherryvale, was sentenced Friday for capital murder and three counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to killing 29-year-old Cami Umbarger and her three minor children in Parsons in November 2013.

The state dropped its intention to seek the death penalty as part of the plea deal.

Testimony at a preliminary hearing in October 2014 indicated the victims were strangled. Witnesses testified Bennett repeatedly tried to contact Umbarger after they met at a club in Independence. Family members said the two had dated briefly but Umbarger tried to end the relationship.

Sheriff asks for help to locate Kan. man convicted of rape

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FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking for the the public’s assistance in locating Juan Montalvo.

Montalvo-photo Finney Co.

He is wanted for Non Appearance for his sentencing for a Rape conviction, according to the Finney County Sheriff’s Department.

Montalvo, is 38 years old, 6-foo-3 and weighs 180 pounds.  His last known address was 2917 N. Fleming, apartment #608 in Garden City.

If you have information about Montalvo’s location, please contact the Finney County Sheriff’s Office.

Wichita police investigate 2 alleged school threats, make arrest

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Snapchat

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is investigating two alleged threats made Friday on social media at local high schools and in one case a 17-year-old has been arrested.

According to officer Charlie Davidson, a Bishop Carroll school official notified police of a social media post involving a student threatening physical violence at a school.

The investigation led to the identification and arrest of a 17-year-old male suspect, according to Davidson. The suspect will be booked into jail for criminal threat

Also, a Southeast High student notified school administrators of a social media post that threatened violence on Snapchat, a popular youth communications platform. Southeast officials notified police and are currently investigating the case to determine the source and severity of the threat, according to Davidson.

Wichita Police will continue to work with school officials to ensure the safety of students.

UPDATE: Kansas man critically wounded in shooting dies

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Police on the scene of the Friday morning shooting-photo courtesy WIBW TV

TOPEKA- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.

Just before 2a.m.Friday, police responded to the report of a shooting at a home in the 3500 block of SE Girard in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Officers located an adult male victim identified as 42-year-old Tyrone Bagget, Topeka in critical condition suffering from life threatening gunshot wounds. He was rushed to an area hospital and died.

Detectives, Crime Scene investigators and K9 teams responded to process the scene and gather evidence. There have been no arrests made at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Topeka Police Department.

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TOPEKA—  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting.

Just before 2a.m.Friday, police  responded to the report of a shooting at a home in the 3500 block of SE Girard in Topeka, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Officers located an adult male victim in critical condition suffering from life threatening gunshot wounds. The victim was rushed to an area hospital.

Detectives, Crime Scene investigators and K9 teams responded to process the scene and gather evidence. There have been no arrests made at this time. Police did not release the victim’s name.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Topeka Police Department.

Teen arrested for alleged threat at Dodge City High School

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FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a potential threat at USD 443 Dodge City High School.

Just after 6a.m. Friday, police received an anonymous tip of a possible threat to the Dodge City High School by a 17-year old student, according to media release.

“The investigation involved general threatening comments allegedly made from one student to others on a day prior, not specific threats toward the school or any person or a specific date,” according to Dodge City Police.

Officers immediately reacted to the tip and worked with school officials to locate the alleged suspect at home prior to the school day starting.

 

After a thorough investigation the subject has been arrested for the alleged crime of criminal threat. The case is being filed with the Ford County Attorney’s office.

 

Police indicated they have no reason to believe there is any further threat to any of the schools in USD 443.

GED Orientation classes starting at Barton Community College

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BUSINESS NEWS

Barton Community College’s Center for Adult Education will start its nine-week GED Preparation Class on March 12 with an application deadline of February 26.

Barton has introduced a new orientation schedule and attendance policy for those interested in the preparation class.

Students will now be required to attend the three orientation classes, March 12-14, and the first day of class on March 15, failure to attend all four days will result in removal of the student from the program.

The March 12 session is from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with optional WorkReady! testing from 3-4:30 p.m. The day will include welcome information along with required testing. On March 13 from 9-11:30 a.m., partner agencies will talk about their services with the 12:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. time slot available to the students who need Adult Basic Education re-testing and continual WorkReady! testing. All students will be meeting with their instructor one on one on March 14 to discuss goals, their expectations, attendance requirements, workload, etc. Appointments will be 30 minutes each.

On Thursday, March 15, students will have the choice to begin attending the morning class pathway from 8-11 a.m. or the evening hybrid class pathway from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

There is a one-time $65 fee for materials.  Once students have completed the preparation courses, they will be able to take the official GED test. The cost to take the GED test is $132.

Individuals who are interested in taking the GED exam without any preparation instruction can do so right away but are urged to receive advising before moving forward.

Students must bring a valid Kansas ID. Minors must bring a parent or legal guardian to enroll and must also bring their disclaimer or exemption documentation from their high school or online program.

To sign up or for more information contact Susanne Yarmer at yarmers@bartonccc.edu or (620) 786-7560.

Suspect enters plea in Salina stabbing death

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SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A man in central Kansas has pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a man.

Leonardo Velasquez

Leonardo Velasquez, 38, waived his right to a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday in Saline County District Court and entered the plea that reduced his original first-degree murder charge.

Police found 52-year-old Raul Lopez-Vargas dead in the back seat of his car Sept. 10 while the vehicle was parked in a driveway. A probable cause affidavit says the Solomon man was struck and stabbed more than 100 times, and that DNA evidence and shoe prints connects the crime to Velasquez.

Velasquez’s sentencing is April 2. He faces up to more than 41 years in prison.

Kan. Congressional Candidate Sticking With Rifle Giveaway After Florida Shooting

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BY JIM MCLEAN

Kansas congressional candidate Tyler Tannahill is sticking with his planned giveaway of rifle similar to the one used in the mass shooting at a Florida high school.

The Leavenworth Marine veteran running for the Republican nomination in the 2nd District announced the contest for an AR-15 rifle on social media the day before the Florida gunman killed at least 17 people.

“As an avid sportsman, I’m excited to announce our first AR-15 giveaway!” Tannahill said in a post on his campaign’s Facebook page the day before the carnage in Parkland, Fla. “You can earn multiple entries and no purchase is necessary to win!”

He was just as enthusiastic in a news release.

“There’s no better way to demonstrate support of our Second Amendment rights than to offer one lucky winner a sporting rifle from the campaign,” said Tannahill. “As a congressman, I’ll stand up in defense of the Second Amendment against the gun-grabbing Paul Davis Democrats.”

That set off a backlash after the shooting, with several people criticizing Tannahill for being “tone deaf,” “out of touch” and worse.

Tannahill responded to the shooting with a Facebook post of his own, saying that he and his wife were “heartbroken to learn of the tragedy.”

Declaring, “We can do better,” Tannahill said providing violence response training to teachers and staff could help make schools safer.

Tannahill told the Kansas City Star he wouldn’t bow to pressure and cancel the gun giveaway, the announcement of which was planned to coincide with this weekend’s Kansas Republican Convention in Wichita.

“We need to have a discussion of what can be done and throwing out comments of displeasure isn’t going to solve it,” Tannahill told the Star.

The contests rules posted on the campaign website say contestants must be at least 18 to win the AR-15 and meet all legal requirements for purchasing a firearm, including passing a federal background check.

Tannahill is one of seven announced candidates for the GOP nomination for the 2nd District seat now held by Republican Lynn Jenkins. After five terms, she isn’t running for re-election. Earlier this month he attended a so-called “Defend Our Flag” protest that included some participants driving pick-up trucks decorated with both American and confederate flags through downtown Lawrence, according to The Pitch.

Steve Watkins, of Topeka, another GOP hopeful in the 2nd District, also attended the demonstration.

The winner of the Republican primary will likely face Democrat Paul Davis in the general election. Davis, a former Kansas House minority leader, narrowly lost a 2014 bid to unseat former Gov. Sam Brownback.

Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.

Kan. man was bloody, naked before federal officer shooting

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SEDONA, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say a Kansas man was walking along an Arizona highway naked and bleeding before he was fatally shot by a federal officer last month.

Tyler Miller -courtesy photo

Reports released this week by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office contain details about the condition of 51-year-old Tyler Miller before the Jan. 5 shooting.

The FBI’s Phoenix office says a U.S. Forest Service officer initially stopped to help Miller on Highway 89A in Oak Creek Canyon, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

According to family, the Hutchinson man was heading to a retreat in Sedona when he crashed his truck.

A deputy wrote Officer Krista Kuhns sounded “shaky and was speaking loudly” over a radio and then shots were fired.

The Miller family’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.

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