SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on sexual assault charges.

A 29-year-old woman told police she met 30-year-old Kyle Baxter Saturday evening at the Paramount Bar, 219 North Santa Fe in Salina.

She was there with friends and went with Baxter to the basement to look at some bar equipment for sale, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester.

The woman accused Baxter of not allowing her to leave and sexual assault while they were in the basement.

Late Saturday, Police arrested Baxter at his residence requested charges of rape and and criminal restraint.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas-based chemical company has agreed to pay a $950,000 penalty to the federal government for allegations that it violated the Clean Air Act.

The settlement announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency also requires Harcros Chemicals of Kansas City, Kansas, to make sure that its accident prevention program complies with federal requirements.

Harcros operates 31 facilities in 19 states and two in Kansas. The firm manufacture, blend, repackage and distribute chemicals.

The settlement calls for the company to audit 28 of its facilities to identify and correct potential sources of Clean Air Act violations, and to effectively react to accidents when they occur. It also requires installation of foam-based sprinkler systems at eight Harcros facilities.

A phone message left with Harcros Chemicals was not immediately returned.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY – Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Monday morning fire at a house in Wilson.

SEDGWICK COUNTY-Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident.

Just after 11p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to report of an injury accident the 1700 Block of West Kellogg in Wichita. A 2006 Chevy Impala driven by a 38-year-old man was traveling on the ramp from Interstate 135 to Westbound Kellogg, according to Officer Charley Davidson.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It hit a concrete barrier and rolled. First responders pronounced a 44-year old passenger dead at the scene.

The driver and three additional occupants including a 29-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 31-year-old woman were transported to a local hospital in serious and or critical condition, according to Davidson.

Police did not released names of the victims.

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue the investigation the June murder of a Salina man and have made a fourth arrest.

On Friday night, police arrested 20-year-old Austin Bott, Salina, for failure to appear, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Bott was wanted for questioning in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Brandon Lee Shelby. On June 6, investigators found Shelby’s body near the Smoky Hill River Bridge crossing on North East Street in Salina.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations, Shelby suffered blunt force trauma to the head and had other severe injuries.

Sheriff Soldan did not comment on Bott’s role in the murder but said he was booked into the Saline County Jail Saturday for murder in the first degree, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

Police have arrested three other Salina men in connection with the case.

Charles Rodgers, 30, James Pavey, 40, and Brandon St. Clair, are being held for alleged first-degree murder.

FORD COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating a July 23, double shooting and continue searching for an alleged suspect 20-year-old Xavier Alejandro Maestas.

On Friday, the Hodgeman County Sheriff’s office reported receiving numerous tips that Maestas has been seen in Jetmore and Hodgeman County, according to a social media report.

Police reported he is possibly driving a blue passenger car with partial gold wheels.

After looking at video from Friday’s tip, the individual that was in Jetmore was not the suspect, according to the Hodgeman County Sheriff’s Department.

Just after 2:30 a.m. July 23, Officers from the Dodge City Police Department were dispatched to a mobile home at 201 E. McArtor for a shooting, according to a media release.
When Officers arrived they found two adult men suffering from gunshot wounds. During the investigation

Detectives determined the victims were standing outside the trailer when they were shot.

Detectives were able to identify a suspect and an arrest warrant was issued for 20-year-old Xavier Alejandro Maestas for Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Aggravated Assault – Use of a deadly Weapon, and Criminal Discharge of a Firearm – Shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Deputies advised the public if you see the suspect do not approach him. Contact Law Enforcement immediately. Maestas is considered armed and dangerous.

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery that started as a Craigslist ad and have made an arrest.

A 17-year-old victim arrived at an apartment complex to complete the transaction, according to a media release from Topeka police.

Once inside the apartment, several armed suspects forced to victim to remove his clothes. The victim’s phone and clothing were taken and he was told to leave.

The investigation led to two persons of interest. Police conducted interviews and arrested 21-year-old Shawn D. Davis, according to officer Colleen Stuart.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Topeka police. The Topeka police reminded residents they have a safe exchange zone for transactions at 320 South Kansas Avenue, Suite 100.

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SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery that started as a Craigslist ad. The 17-year-old victim arrived at an apartment complex to complete the transaction, according to a media release from Topeka police.

Once inside the apartment, several armed suspects forced to victim to remove his clothes. The victim’s phone and clothing were taken and he was told to leave.

The investigation led to two persons of interest. Police are interviewing them. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Topeka police. The Topeka police reminded residents they have a safe exchange zone for transactions at 320 South Kansas Avenue, Suite 100.

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — Police in the Kansas City suburb of Gardner, Kansas, say four people were injured in a crash involving a 15-year-old boy who had fled after striking a police officer.

KMBC-TV reports that an officer was checking on a car Saturday night when the driver suddenly sped away, striking and slightly injuring the officer.

Kansas Highway Patrol troopers later chased the suspect on Interstate 435 before he lost control of the vehicle, sideswiped another vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic before colliding head-on with another vehicle, which then overturned.

The suspect was taken a hospital. Three other people, including a toddler, also were injured.

The medical statuses of the injured were not immediately available Monday.

There was no immediate word about any charges.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been ordered to stand trial in the slaying of the sister of a girl whose kidnapping 17 years earlier sparked a massive manhunt before she was found dead in Missouri.

The Kansas City Star reports a Wyandotte County judge ordered the trial Friday after 41-year-old Emenencio Lansdown’s preliminary hearing on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm. Lansdown’s attorney entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf.

Lansdown is accused of killing Casey Eaton in April near the Kansas City, Kansas, park dedicated to her late sister, Pamela Butler.

Butler was 10 in 1999 when she was kidnapped while roller-skating near her home. Butler’s body was later found in Grain Valley, Missouri.

Her abductor, Keith Nelson, was convicted and sentenced to death.

MEADE COUNTY – A Kansas man injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Meade County has died.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Jeep Compass driven by Alton L. Willimon, 68, Plains, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles west of Meade at a high rate of speed.

The driver failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, crossed the center line, traveled into the south ditch and crossed U.S. 160 vaulting off into the south ditch.

The Jeep then vaulted a fence line, flipped end over end, rolled and ejected the driver and. The Jeep caught fire and burned completely.

Willimon was transported to the Meade District Hospital and later flown to the burn unit at St. Francis in Wichita. The KHP reported Sunday afternoon that he had died.

He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

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MEADE COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Jeep Compass driven by Alton L. Willimon, 68, Plains, was westbound on U.S. 54 four miles west of Meade at a high rate of speed.

The driver failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, crossed the center line, traveled into the south ditch and crossed U.S. 160 vaulting off into the south ditch.

The Jeep then vaulted a fence line, flipped end over end, rolled and ejected the driver and. The Jeep caught fire and burned completely.

Willimon was transported to the Meade District Hospital and later flown to the burn unit at St. Francis in Wichita. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.