KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A Congolese military official says a suspect has been arrested in connection with the deaths of an American and a Swedish investigator for the United Nations and their interpreter.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Ponde Isambwa made the announcement Friday.

The bodies of American Michael Sharp, Swedish national Zaida Catalan and interpreter Betu Tshintela were found late last month in Congo’s Central Kasai province.

Sharp is the son of Hesston Kansas College Bible faculty members John and Michele Sharp.

They had been looking into alleged human rights violations by the Congolese army and local militia groups. Three other local members of their team remain missing.

At least 400 civilians have been killed in the region since August amid a rebellion loyal to former traditional leader Kamwina Nsapu. The United Nations has said 23 mass graves have been found in the region, and at least 434,000 people have been displaced.

HARPER COUNTY–Another earthquake rattled Kansas on Thursday.

The 2.7 magnitude quake hit just before 11:30p.m. and was centered approximately 14 miles southeast of Harper according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It is the eleventh quake in Kansas this month.

The USGS recorded 7 Kansas earthquakes in March and 6 in February. They measured from 2.5. to 3.3.

There are no reports of damage or injury from Thursday’s earthquake.

NORTON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in northwest Kansas are investigating a suspect on drug charges.
Game Wardens received a call to investigate a tent set up away from the designated area at the Norton Wildlife Area, according to a social media report.

Wardens found an unattended fire in addition to fresh tire tracks leading up to the tent that was off of the maintained road.

Authorities saw drug paraphernalia from an open flap on the tent and asked for a search warrant.

The owners of the tent returned before the search warrant was executed and marijuana was found in addition to more paraphernalia. Charges are pending in the case.

Names were not released.

 

WICHITA -Thanks to an observant citizen, the Boy Scout’s trailer stolen this week was found in the area of Orient Blvd and South Dodge, according to Wichita Police.

The contents were removed and stolen, but the trailer was returned to the scouts.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating the theft of a trailer from the Boy Scouts.

Between April 9 and 10th someone took the trailer full of camping equipment from the parking lot at 11215 west 13th street north in Wichita, according to Wichita police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Tuesday’s online media briefing.

The beige, 14×7 dual axel, enclosed trailer has double doors on the rear and includes an entry door on the side. It also has an Interstate logo on the front and on the rear.

The Kansas tag is 918JVT

The Boy Scout troop 450 did a lot of work to raise the money for the camping equipment, according to Woodrow.

GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating two suspect on drug charges after a Thursday morning arrest.

Just before 4a.m. Thursday, deputies stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 just west of the Kansas 177 exit.

Deputies arrested Marquette C. Jones and Twila L. Cushinberry both of Atchison on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jones was also arrested on suspicion of

Transporting an Open Container of alcohol.

There is no information on what prompted the original traffic stop.

RENO COUNTY— A Kansas man serving time in prison for murder in Seward County has been convicted on a charge of aggravated battery of a corrections officer.

A court determined Eddie Nunez, 29, was  guilty of battering and causing injury to a female officer at the central unit of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in January of 2016.

According to court testimony, the officer had given permission for Nunez cell door to be opened so he could empty his trash.

She was distracted by other inmates, turned and saw Nunez’s fist. She was struck repeatedly.

She testified that she went underneath a nearby stairway trying to escape, but he followed her and continued to hit and kick her.

During the altercation, she couldn’t get to her radio, so she finally started screaming. Help then arrived. She suffered a black eye and other bruising.

With the conviction, Nunez could receive a maximum sentence of over 11 years in prison added to what he is already serving for a second-degree murder conviction from 2005.

Sentencing is set for next month.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman who was struck in the head by a discus at a 2014 state track meet in Nebraska has been awarded $350,000 in a settlement.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that 83-year-old Bernice Gorecki filed a lawsuit in 2015 after being hit by a student-athlete’s discus while standing in the visitor area of the track meet at Burke High School in Omaha.

She and her husband sued the Omaha Public Schools and the Nebraska State Activities Association, alleging the entities failed in their duty to keep spectators safe.

District spokeswoman Monique Farmer says a spectator fence has now been pushed back farther.

Gorecki’s attorney, David Mullin, says he can’t comment on Gorecki’s injuries or her recovery.

SHAWNEE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a suspect in connection with a shooting.

Just before 10:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a gunshots in the 700 Block of SW Polk in Topeka, according to a media release.

A man told police an unknown suspect shot at him. Police quickly found the suspect identified as 35-year-old Joyce Brown of Topeka.

She was taken in for questioning and arrested on charges of aggravated assault and firing a weapon into an occupied dwelling, according to police.

There were no injuries reported.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The family of a 10-year-old boy who died while riding a waterslide at a Kansas water park has reached settlements with a general contractor and a consulting company involved in the project.

Rep. Scott Schwab testified Wednesday that he and his family agreed to the terms of the wrongful-death settlements involving his son, Caleb. The boy died in August on the 17-story Verruckt waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Kansas City Star reports terms of settlements with Henry & Sons Construction and National Aquatics Safety Company were not released.

Henry & Sons was the general contractor for Verruckt, a 168-foot waterslide that was promoted as the world’s tallest such ride.

National Aquatics, based in Dickinson, Texas, and its owner, John Hunsucker, consulted on the project.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a suspect was shot and killed by law enforcers after leading police on a three-county, south-central Kansas chase, firing at deputies and police along the way.

Investigators in Wichita say 25-year-old Charles Johnston was shot early Thursday near Udall after a vehicle in which he was riding became disabled after the chase. Authorities say he held a gun to a female passenger’s head outside of the car, then fired again at law enforcers as he tried to run away. Law enforcers returned fire, killing Johnston.

Neither the woman nor any law enforcers were injured.

Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said police had sought to arrest Johnston as a parole absconder.

Johnston was from prison in January and has prior convictions of aggravated battery, obstruction and fleeing law enforcement.

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UDALL, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say officers have fatally shot a man after he repeatedly fired at them during a south-central Kansas chase.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says the chase started late Wednesday when a Wichita police officer attempted to pursue a suspect with an active warrant.

The suspect began firing at officers when a patrol car that can shoot GPS tracking devices onto fleeing vehicles approached. The chase eventually came to an end near the Sumner-Cowley County line.

Sumner County Sheriff Darren Chambers says authorities killed the suspect when he got out of his vehicle and fired more shots at them. Chambers says authorities are interviewing a woman who was inside the suspect’s vehicle. Neither the woman nor any of the officers were hurt during the chase.