KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 20-year-old driver has been charged with killing two passengers in a crash while fleeing from police in Kansas City, Kansas.

Zackery Smith was charged Wednesday in Wyandotte County with two counts of felony first-degree murder.

Police say the crash happened Monday as officers were pursuing suspects from a reported shoplifting at a Cabela’s sporting goods store. The victims were identified as 27-year-old Jason Edwards, of Kansas City, and 23-year-old Amber Bledsoe, of Prairie Village.

Smith and the driver of the pickup truck he’s accused of hitting were taken to hospitals. Smith was booked into jail Wednesday after he was released. Bond is set at $50,000. The prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately return an email from The Associated Press asking whether Smith has an attorney.

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WYANDOTTE COUNTY— Two people died in an accident during a police pursuit just before 4p.m. Monday in Wyandotte County.

Police say the people in the car were fleeing law enforcement after an alleged theft at Cabela’s, an outdoor sporting goods store.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Lexus ES driven by Zackery Smith, 20, Kansas City, was fleeing from law enforcement northbound on 94th Street.

The driver attempted a right hand turn on to Parallel Parkway. The Lexus and struck a 2015 Ford F150 driven by Dale Myers, 55, Kansas City, that was westbound on Parallel Parkway.

Passengers in the Lexus Jason Edwards, 27, Kansas City, MO., and Amber Bledsoe, 23, Prairie Village were pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith was transported to KU Medical Center. Myers was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.  Edwards and Smith were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman pleaded guilty Thursday to federal identity theft charges, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

Chanel K. Wiseman, 29, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of identity theft. In her plea, she admitted she was arrested in September 2016 in a stolen car in a parking lot at a Walmart store in Goodard, Kan. In the car, investigators found stolen mail, authentic and fraudulent driver’s licenses, student identification cards, Social Security cards, credit and debit cards and checks.

According to court records, when investigators searched Wiseman’s hotel room they found a laminated menu listing identity theft services including fake IDs, fraudulent vehicle paperwork and forged checks. Beside each item was a detailed “non-negotiable” price ranging from $20 to $1,500. They also found computers, printers and counterfeit documents.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 21. She faces a penalty of not less than two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Beall commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.

 

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of vandalism at a Salina Park.

Salina City employees reported that the Saline County War Memorial at Sunset Park, 700 Sunset Drive, in Salina was vandalized between 8 p.m. on Oct. 4 and 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 5, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The unknown suspect(s) used spray paint to tag the monument and the sidewalk around it.
Authorities say that cleanup will exceed $1,000.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas Reps. Kevin Yoder and Lynn Jenkins say they support a federal ban on “bump stocks,” which convert semi-automatic rifles to shoot like fully automatic weapons

The two Kansas Republicans issued statements Thursday supporting a ban on the accessory apparently used by a gunman in Las Vegas Sunday to kill and wound more than 550 people. The proposal to ban the “bump stocks” is gaining support from some Republicans in Congress.

Yoder, who is expected to seek re-election in Kansas’ 3rd District, says individuals shouldn’t be able to easily convert legal firearms into automatic weapons.

While I support the 2nd Amendment, I believe we should close the regulatory loophole that allows bump stocks and other devices like it. pic.twitter.com/9KqRhYvh72

— Lynn Jenkins (@RepLynnJenkins) October 5, 2017

And Jenkins, who is not running again in the 2nd District, says she still supports gun rights but she believes Congress should close the loophole that allows the use of bump stocks and similar devices.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on car theft charges after a Thursday morning chase that ended in a cemetery.

Just after 2:30 am. Thursday, Police were on patrol when the attempted to stop a vehicle in the1400 Block of South Pershing in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.  The driver refused to stop.

Police chased the Honda passenger vehicle at minimal speeds through a neighborhood between Hillside and Oliver.  The Honda did hit a privacy fence in the 3500 Block of East Lincoln and a street sign.  The chase continued into the Calvary Cemetery in the 600 Block of South Vassar where the Honda struck tombstones, according to Davidson.

The 19-year-old driver ultimately fled the vehicle and was quickly apprehended by officers.  An investigating confirmed the Honda was stolen.

The suspect was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail for auto theft, criminal damage to property, felony pursuit and other traffic violations.

Police also learned the suspect was in possession of keys that belong to several different makes and models of cars.  Police did released the name of the suspect.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The state’s largest school district says students won’t be disciplined merely for not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or national anthem.

The guidance was issued to principals in the Wichita school district this week after President Donald Trump lashed out at NFL players for not standing during the anthem. The kneeling protests started last year as a statement against the killings of unarmed black men and boys at the hands of police.

 

Tomorrow. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/3xYK0hwoYP

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 2, 2017

Gil Alvarez, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, said in an email that students who object to participating “will be excused upon the student’s oral or written request.” The email says students excused from participation “shall silently remain seated (or kneel in quiet reflection) during the exercise by other students.”

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen for alleged sex crimes in a college dorm.

Terrance Williams, 18, a member of the Kansas Wesleyan football team from Garland, Texas, is accused of sexually assaulting two different 18-year-old female students, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The victims told police of three separate sexual assaults that occurred since August in dorms on the KWU campus, 100 East Claflin Avenue in Salina, according to Forrester.

Williams remains jailed on requested charges of rape, sexual battery and criminal restraint.   He is no longer listed on the KWU football roster. Coach Matt Drinkall has not issued a statement on Williams’ arrest.

RILEY  COUNTY — A Kansas woman arrested for allegedly intentionally setting a fire at a Manhattan apartment building is out of the hospital and jail.

Brianna Jean Elston, 21, was hospitalized for two days due to injuries from the fire, according to Captain Jeff Hooper with Riley County Police.

After Elston was dismissed from the hospital Wednesday, she was transported to the Riley County Jail and booked on Aggravated Arson charges for Monday’s fire at 12-unit, two-story apartment building in the 400 Block of Walters Drive.

Elston bonded out of jail late Wednesday, according to Hooper.

Two apartment units damaged in the blaze were unfit for residents to return Monday, according to fire officials. The blaze did an estimated $15,000 in damage.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Members of Kansas Moms Demand Action for gun sense in America held a vigil for Las Vegas shooting victims Wednesday in Wichita.

According to their social media account Moms Demand Action has mobilized mothers across the country to become the largest grassroots movement working to reduce gun violence. They were organized following the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting,

Moms Demand Action is a program of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country, with more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters.

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on attempted burglary and related charges.

On Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Main Street in Garden City reference a burglary in progress, according to a media release.

When officers arrived, they observed a woman go into the residence. Officers ordered the woman out of the residence, and when she did come out, she produced a knife.

Officers ordered the woman later identified as Keri Coulter, 38, transient to drop the knife. Coulter refused and then went back into the residence. Several minutes later, Coulter again came outside of the residence, but would not adhere to the officer’s commands.

A Police Service Dog was used in taking Coulter into custody. Coulter was taken to St. Catherine Hospital, treated and released for minor injuries.

The investigation revealed Coulter had been released from the Kansas Department of Corrections on September 28, 2017, for Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer. The owners of the residence had also banned Coulter from the residence. Coulter was booked into the Finney County Jail on the requested charges of Attempted Burglary, Interference with LEO, Criminal Threats and Criminal Trespass.

She has a previous conviction for criminal threat, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.