KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A truck driver was sentenced Monday to 46 months in federal prison for hauling more than 44 pounds of cocaine to Kansas, according toU.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Erick Omar Rios, 37, San Ysidro, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
In his plea, he admitted he was operating a tractor pulling a refrigerated trailer when he was stopped by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Troopers found 10 vacuum wrapped packages containing 44 pounds of cocaine hidden in a cooling unit on the trailer.
They learned Rios had picked up the load in Los Angeles to deliver to Plainfield, Ind. He was expecting to be paid $4,000 when he returned to Los Angeles.
DICKINSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects on drug charges.
Police received a call, reporting suspicious activity at a Super 8 Motel in 2200 Block of North Buckeye Avenue in Abilene, according to a media release. Early Saturday, officers received consent to search room number 306.
“The search resulted in the discovery of 188 grams of methamphetamine, personal use marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of approximately $19,000, according to police.
Officers arrested 21-year-old Lindsey N. Whisenhunt, Salina and 34-year-old Bailey E O’Brien, Wichita, on numerous drug charges.
A third individual, Michael J. Thompson, Salina, was also arrested for an outstanding warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Records show that the stepmother of a Kansas boy whose father killed him and fed his remains to the family’s pigs talked on a private Facebook group about restraining the child with handcuffs, ace bandages and splints.
A search warrant released Monday shows that 31-year-old Heather Jones also made a reference to having “no problems” with having the boy, Adrian Jones, “look at flowers.” The quote was a reference to the TV show “The Walking Dead” in which a woman fatally shoots a child after telling her to “look at the flowers.”
Jones also described Adrian as a “psychopath” and said “pain compliance does not work.”
Jones and the boy’s father, Michael Jones, have been sentenced to life in prison. Adrian Jones’ remains were found in November 2015, weeks after he died.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A former executive of a Kansas City-area roofing company has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for employing people living in the country illegally.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall says 71-year-old Tommy Keaton, of Shawnee, Kansas, was sentenced Monday. He will serve a year of supervised release after he leaves prison.
Federal prosecutors say Keaton was indicted in June 2016 for using the workers for Century Roofing to install roofs in the Kansas City metropolitan area. In a plea agreement in February, he admitted harboring up to 24 people in the country illegally for roofing projects for Century.
Keaton also was ordered to forfeit $1.4 million.
Two other people have been sentenced. A total of more than $2 million was forfeited in the case.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt has asked Kansas City, Kansas police for more investigative material surrounding the death of a boy last year on a water slide.
Schmidt said in a statement Monday that his office is still reviewing the case and that he didn’t know when the inquiry would conclude.
The Wyandotte County district attorney asked Schmidt’s office in December to review the case and determine whether anyone should be charged with a crime related to the death of Republican Rep. Scott Schwab’s 10-year-old son, Caleb. Caleb’s death on the “Verruckt” water slide at Schlitterbahn Water Park spurred lawmakers to ramp up oversight of amusement parks.
Neither Schmidt’s office nor the Kansas City police would say what additional information Schmidt requested.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach says he’ll declare within the next two months whether he’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor in 2018.
Kobach said during a recent Associated Press interview that he’s looking at the race very seriously. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback is term-limited.
The Kansas secretary of state was considered a candidate for a job in President Donald Trump’s administration. But he said he turned down positions in the White House and the Department of Homeland Security because he and his family wanted to stay in Kansas.
Kobach began advising Trump on immigration early last year during the presidential campaign and has been appointed by the president to a new commission on election fraud.
Kobach said he’s not interested in running for Congress or state attorney general.
Monday chain reaction crash in Shawnee County-photo WIBW-TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY -Two people were injured in a chain reaction motorcycle accident just before 9a.m. Monday on Interstate 70 in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported six motorcycles were eastbound on Interstate 70 in the right-hand lane when one of them started to slow down as they approached Rice Road.
The bike that started to slow was struck by the motorcycle directly behind it, causing a chain-reaction collision.
Clinton Way Gunter, 65, Yuma, AZ, and James Marshall, Jr., 69, Bruceton Mills, WV., were transported to a hospital in Topeka.
Four others including riders from Indiana and Missouri were not injured. All six were wearing helmets, according to the KHP.
SALINE COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect for alleged lewd behavior.
Just before 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police were called to Target, 2939 Market Place in Salina after report of bizarre behavior by a man in possession of a knife, according to Police Capt. Paul Forrester.
An officer confronted the man, identified as 24-year-old Raymond Kaumans, in the shoe aisle.
Kaumans then allegedly exposed himself to the officer, according to Forrester. A customer also reported that Kaumans exposed his penis to them.
Kaumans, who is reportedly homeless, was taken into custody for lewd and lascivious behavior.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY -A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday in Montgomery County.
A Pontiac Grand Am driven by Shyanne Rae Dawn Elliot, 21, Independence, was traveling on County Road 2400, according to a media release from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
The vehicle struck a culvert, overturned multiple times and the driver was ejected.
Elliot was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics in Kansas City for autopsy.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a person of interest.
The victim identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, Manhattan died in the shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release.
The person of interest is Steven Harris, 38, Manhattan.
Harris is a white Hispanic male, approximately 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds, according to police.Harris also has distinctive tattoos to his face, neck, and back of the head.
Police reminded the public If located, do not approach him, call 911.
Police are also looking for a gold Pontiac Aztec that may be associated to this case. The first shows the correct coloring of the vehicle, while the 2nd shows the distinctive back of the vehicle for those unfamiliar with the vehicle.
Police closed Northview Elementary school Monday due to the active shooting investigation in the 600 Block of Frey Drive in Manhattan.
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RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and looking for a suspect.
A man died in a shooting in the 2800 block of Nelson’s Landing in Manhattan on Sunday evening, according to a media release.
The victim was identified as German Gonzalez-Garcia, 39, of Manhattan, according to a social media report from police.
Police closed Northview Elementary school Monday due to the active shooting investigation in the 600 Block of Frey Drive in Manhattan.
PARENTS: Northview Elementary will be cancelling school today in light of the police operation in the 600 block of Frey Dr.
In addition to the fatality, another man was transported to the hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.
Riley County Police are looking for a white late 90’s, early 2000’s truck with black front and back brush guards, a silver Craftsmen toolbox, and 20 inch rims.
Officers asked the public to call 911 if they see the vehicle. However, the public is also being advised to not attempt to approach the vehicle.
No additional details were available late Sunday.
