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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Six unlocked vehicles burglarized in western Shawnee

File image
Posted: January 22, 2019 - 10:12 a.m.

Shawnee police say six unlocked vehicles were burglarized early Monday morning in a western Shawnee neighborhood.

Major Sam Larson of the Shawnee Police Department says officers were called around 1:30 a.m. to a home in the 5500 block of Lakeridge Drive, in the Symphony at Monticello neighborhood, on a report of a possible auto burglary. The neighborhood is located near the intersection of Johnson Drive and Monticello Road.

"A citizen called reporting suspicious activity and thought someone was trying to break into a vehicle at their home," Maj. Larson said.

Officers searched the area with a K-9 but were unable to locate the suspect.

A resident of the neighborhood called the police again around 3:30 a.m. after seeing the suspect walking in the area. A responding officer spotted the suspect near 56th Street and Millridge Street.

"The male suspect, an 18-year-old Kansas City, Kansas resident, fled from officers on foot," Maj. Larson said. "He was taken into custody a short time later."

Johnson County Sheriff's Office booking logs show the suspect was arrested at 3:54 a.m. and then booked into the Adult Detention Center in Olathe at 7:55 a.m.

Maj. Larson say officers have already taken six case numbers which are believed to be associated with this suspect.

Police say all six of the vehicles burglarized were left unlocked.

"The vast majority of the auto burglaries we investigate are to unlocked vehicles, help to greatly reduce your chance of being a theft victim by locking your cars," Maj. Larson said. "We ask that all residents take the time to remove valuables from vehicles and to ensure that their vehicles are locked."

Maj. Larson adds that it's always a good idea to double check that your garage door is closed and car doors are locked before going to bed.

Police are asking anyone who believes their vehicle may have been burglarized or entered over the weekend to call them, 913-631-2150, to report the crime.

The suspect remains in the custody of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and is awaiting formal charges. Operation 100 News will update this report to identify the alleged suspect once he is charged on Tuesday afternoon.

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Friday, January 18, 2019

VIDEO: Two men injured in basement flash fire

Posted: January 18, 2019 - 3:15 p.m.

Johnson County Med-Act transported two men to an area burn center after they were injured in a flash fire on Friday afternoon.

The Overland Park Fire Department says the fire at 8421 Kessler Street was reported shortly before 1 p.m. Firefighters from the Lenexa Fire Department also responded to assist.


Jason Rhodes, Media Manager of the Overland Park Fire Department, says arriving firefighters found smoke coming from the duplex two men with burn injuries in front of the building.

"Medical crews went to work on the patients, while fire crews attacked a fire in the basement on the north duplex," Rhodes said. "Both patients were quickly transported and the fire was knocked down in a matter of minutes."

Rhodes says both men were transported by ambulance to the University of Kansas Medical Center Burn Unit. One man is in critical condition, the other is in stable condition.

"Investigators believe the two were working with a paint sprayer in the basement utility area and that the fumes from the sprayer made contact with an open flame from the furnace, causing a flash fire," Rhodes said.

Fire damage was largely contained to the basement area with minor extension to the living area.

"The fire unit is uninhabitable, but residents of the south duplex unit will be able to reoccupy," Rhodes said. "An adult female and two children also reside in the damaged unit, but were not home at the time of the fire."

Firefighters want to remind everyone to keep flammable substances away from open flames, always follow precautions on product labels, and to use these products in well-ventilated areas.

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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

EXCLUSIVE: Five detained as tactical team serves search warrant

Posted: January 15, 2019 - 4:52 a.m.
Updated: January 15, 2019 - 3:16 p.m.


Police confirm five people were detained as the Shawnee Police Department's STAR Team served a search warrant at an eastern Shawnee house early Tuesday morning.

STAR stands for Special Tactics and Response according to the police department's website.
STAR Team members approach the front of the house just after midnight
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A man surrenders to police outside the house
Neighbors tell Operation 100 News that the house, 6809 Melrose Lane, is one that the police department is familiar with and a place where officers have recovered at least five stolen vehicles over the last three years.

Major Sam Larson says at around 7 p.m. a patrol officer checked a license plate of a vehicle parked at the address.

"The address that this vehicle was at, was an address we are familiar with in the 6800 block of Melrose," Maj. Larson said. "After an initial investigation, we decided to apply for a search warrant for the home as part of the investigation."

Operation 100 News arrived on the street shortly before 10 p.m. to find officers in defensive positions around the house and near police vehicles in the street. Officers waited outside with rifles and spotlights trained on the house. The Mercedes-Benz SUV still in the driveway with one door standing open.

Police maintained their positions until the STAR Team arrived in the department's Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) just after midnight. The team walked to the front door, where officers could be heard shouting "police, search warrant" and fists pounding on the front door.
Police shout into the house for anyone inside to come out

One of the men detained is walked to a waiting police vehicle
Major Larson says STAR Team members contacted five people at the house.

"One person was taken into custody on an outside warrant and the others were released," Maj. Larson said.

Officers remained on the scene until just after 2:30 a.m.

One of two police K-9s used to search inside the house
"The case will be reviewed by the Johnson County District Attorney's Office for potential charges," Maj. Larson said. "This is still an active investigation by our detectives and we cannot release any additional information on the case."

Larson says the stolen vehicle was recovered and will be returned to its owner.
The Shawnee Police Department's MRAP and a patrol vehicle behind
the Mercedes-Benz SUV which was reportedly stolen from Kansas City, Kansas
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Tuesday, January 8, 2019

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Wanted man backs into KCPD vehicle, leads officers on 100mph pursuit into JoCo

A gouge mark in the pavement shows where the vehicle was spun out
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Posted: January 8, 2019 - 3:10 a.m.
Updated: January 8, 2019 - 9:12 a.m.


A car chase which started in the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri came to an end in Shawnee early Tuesday.

Radio traffic indicates the suspect vehicle, a Toyota Prius, allegedly hit a Kansas City, Missouri patrol vehicle around 12:40 a.m.

Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Public Information Officer Darin Snapp says two officers went to conduct a "residence check" in the 7200 block of Northwest Donovan Drive at The Lakes Apartments, for a man known to have two felony drug warrants.

The warrants were issued by Platte County, Missouri and Wyandotte County, Kansas.

Officers observed a blue Toyota Prius, a vehicle officers knew to be associated with the suspect, pull into the parking lot.

Kansas City Police say the suspect gradually reversed towards the police vehicle.

"The Toyota struck the police vehicle while Officer Riffle was still inside of the car," KCPD's report says. "After [suspect] struck the police car, [suspect] continued to accelerate backwards, which cause the police vehicle to slide sideways."

The KCPD report says the suspect then accelerated through the parking lot and onto the Interstate, with police in pursuit.
The suspect's Toyota Prius came to a stop and both suspects
were arrested directly under Johnson Drive and just across
the Interstate from Shawnee's police station

The man driving the Prius continued his attempt to speed away from officers on southbound Interstate 435 from Missouri Highway 152. The driver accelerated to just over 100mph. The highest reported speed was 104mph.

The pursuit continued southbound on I-435 across the Missouri River into Kansas and continued south through Kansas City, Kansas.

An Edwardsville, Kansas officer was waiting for the vehicle near Woodend Road and was able to get stop sticks out in front of the car.

Pursuing officers reported that the stop sticks damaged the front driver's side tire of the Prius.

A Platte County Sheriff's Deputy vehicle (left) along with
two Kansas City, Missouri police vehicles
As the chase continued across the Kansas River and into Johnson County, a Kansas Turnpike Authority Trooper informed other units that he would be attempting to spin the Prius out with a PIT maneuver. Speeds had decreased to around 30mph after the Prius hit the stop sticks.

The Trooper's PIT maneuver was successful, and the Prius came to a stop under Johnson Drive at 1 a.m.

No injuries were reported by officers or suspects.

A man and a woman were taken into custody and are awaiting charges.

The man was taken into custody and transported to the Johnson County Adult Detention Center by the Kansas Turnpike Authority Trooper. The female passenger of the vehicle was taken into custody by Shawnee police.

Johnson County Sheriff's Office booking logs show the man is a 41-year-old resident of Kansas City, Missouri, in the Northland, not far from where the pursuit began. He's being held on a pending charge of felony reckless fleeing a law enforcement officer.

Kansas City, Missouri police were assisted in their pursuit by the Platte County, Missouri Sherriff's Office, Edwardsville Police, and Shawnee Police.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Operation 100 News does not release names of suspects until they are formally charged. The Kansas City, Missouri police report names the suspect and I have redacted his name from this report until he is charged. 
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Monday, January 7, 2019

Shawnee woman arrested and charged after allegedly stabbing boyfriend

Posted: January 7, 2019 - 10:40 a.m.
Updated: January 8, 2019 - 12:14 a.m.


Sydney Nicole Monet Ann Vinson, 26
Johnson County Sheriff's Office booking photo
A Shawnee woman was arrested after her boyfriend showed up at an urgent care center with a stab wound on Saturday morning.

Major Sam Larson of the Shawnee Police Department says officers were notified of the incident around 10 a.m. Saturday, but the man was reportedly stabbed around 2 a.m. on Friday.

The 34-year-old man was transported by Johnson County Med-Act to the University of Kansas Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The man's injuries included bruising on his face and chest, in addition to the puncture wound on his left thigh.

6600 block of Park Street where the incident allegedly occurred
The man told police that his girlfriend cut him with a kitchen knife during a domestic disturbance at a duplex in the 6600 block of Park Street.

"After an investigation into the incident, a 26-year-old female was taken into custody from the address on Park and lodged at the Johnson County Adult Detention Center pending aggravated battery charges," Maj. Larson said.

Johnson County Sheriff's Office booking logs show Sydney Nicole Monet Ann Vinson was arrested at 10:59 a.m. on Saturday.

Vinson was arraigned on a charge of aggravated battery with intentional harm and her bond was set at $2,500. She was released from custody at 4:45 p.m. on Monday after posting bail. Her next court date is Thursday, January 17.

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Four people displaced by early-morning fire

Posted: January 7, 2019 - 2:14 a.m.
Updated: January 7, 2019 - 10:50 p.m.


A fire in a Eudora home displaced three adults and one child early Monday morning.

Eudora police and firefighters were dispatched to the two-story house at 918 Church Street at 12:56 a.m. A resident of the home called 911 reporting a fire in a bedroom.

Police officers were on the scene quickly and ran into the home after learning that one of the residents was still inside. The officers were able to get the resident to go outside.

Firefighters arrived to report light smoke visible from one side of the house.

Radio traffic from firefighters indicated they found a mattress on fire in an upstairs bedroom.

Firefighters worked for about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire.

Medics checked on one resident and two police officers for possible smoke inhalation. All refused transport to a hospital.

The Red Cross has been called to assist the displaced residents.

Fire investigators determined that there were no smoke detectors on the floor where the fire started.

The Eudora City Fire Department posted on their Facebook page reminding followers that free smoke detectors are available by calling 785-542-3653 for an appointment.

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Friday, January 4, 2019

Two juveniles arrested after aggravated burglary in Olathe

Posted: January 4, 2019 - 11:23 a.m.

Olathe Police say they arrested two juvenile males after responding on a reported aggravated burglary on Thursday afternoon.

Sergeant Logan Bonney says officers responded to a home in the 23400 block of West 126th Terrace at 2:57 p.m.

This is in the area of 126th Terrace and Canyon Drive.

A resident told officers suspects had forced entry into the home and stole items.

"While officers were investigating, they learned of two attempted burglaries in the same area," Sgt. Bonney said. "Additional officers responded to the area to search for suspects which led to the arrest of two juvenile males."

By Kansas statute, an aggravated burglary is the unlawful entering of a structure or vehicle that is occupied.

No injuries were reported in the burglary or the subsequent search.

Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone who may have information to call them at 913-971-6950 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

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'Low-order explosion' damages western Shawnee home

Posted: January 4, 2019 - 10:16 a.m.

Firefighters were called to the home at 6430 Mize Road in Shawnee at 6:48 p.m. Thursday.

Shawnee Fire Marshal Corey Sands says the resident reported a propane tank on fire.

"Crews arrived and found that a low order explosion occurred in the basement," Sands said. "The main floor wood burning fireplace uses propane to help get the fire going."

Fire investigators believe leaking propane built up in a concrete ash clean out in the basement. When the ashes from the fireplace entered the ash clean out, it ignited the built-up propane.

A low-order explosion involves deflagration, rapid burning that gives off intense heat and sparks. The blast pressure associated with a low-order explosive move at subsonic speeds and result in damage from heaving or displacing.

"There was damage in the basement to the non-load bearing walls and minor damage to the first floor," Sands said. "Nothing structurally was compromised."

Fire Marshal Sands added that the homeowner was able to stay in the house overnight.

No one was injured.

Shawnee firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Lenexa Fire Department and Olathe Fire Department along with a Battalion Chief from Northwest Consolidated Fire District.

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Police search for suspect following Thursday disturbance

Posted: January 4, 2019 - 9:37 a.m.

Shawnee police say they searched twice Thursday evening for a suspect involved in a domestic disturbance.

Major Sam Larson confirms officers responded to the Cottonwood Park Apartments, 6300 block of Widmer Road, for a reported domestic disturbance around 6:45 p.m.

"[There is] not much more information to give on the search, our officers searched the area with one of our K-9s," Maj. Larson said. "We know who the suspect is, we are not going to release a description of him or information about him."

The search took officers into neighborhoods south of Shawnee Mission Parkway along Pflumm Road. The suspect was not located.

"After an initial search of the area, later around 9:45 p.m., we received a call from a resident in the 13500 block of 66th Terrace who thought they heard something suspicious in their backyard, so we checked that area for the suspect," Maj. Larson said.

The suspect was not located in the second search.

Operation 100 News asked if officers saw the suspect at any point. Maj. Larson replied, "yes."

Major Larson also confirmed to Operation 100 News that officers were also out on a call involving the same suspect at the Cottonwood Park Apartments before 2 p.m. Thursday.

No other details have been released.

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Thursday, January 3, 2019

Man arrested in Thursday morning pursuit was shot by police in 2014

Posted: January 3, 2019 - 2:20 a.m.
Updated: January 4, 2019 - 3:07 a.m.

UPDATED REPORT:
The man arrested after a Thursday morning car chase in Lawrence has been identified as a person shot by police in 2014.

According to my reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World, Zachary James Ortiz, 28, was shot by Lawrence police in 2014 after pointing a shotgun at an officer.
In July 2016, he was sentenced to 19 months in state prison for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He was released from prison on August 3, 2017.
More on Ortiz's previous arrests can be found here from the Lawrence Journal-World.

His arrest Thursday morning came after he failed to stop for an officer who witnessed a traffic violation in the 600 block of Massachusetts Street according to Lawrence police.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking logs show Ortiz was booked on suspicion of his third DUI, tampering with an ignition lock device, fleeing police, and interference with law enforcement.


ORIGINAL REPORT:
File image


One man was arrested after leading police on a pursuit which started in Downtown Lawrence early Thursday.

An officer tried to stop the black Honda Civic in the 700 block of New Hampshire Street just after 1:20 a.m., but the driver didn't stop.

Radio traffic indicates the suspect led officers west on Seventh Street, north on Massachusetts Street, and then west on Sixth Street.

Pursuing officers reported speeds between 30 and 35 miles per hour. Speeds reached 48 miles per hour briefly.

From Sixth Street the chase went north on Indiana, west on Fourth, and then north on Maine Street.

The suspect vehicle continued north on Maine Street, passing Second Street to the dead-end where the car hit a large rock and became high-centered.

Radio traffic from officers reported that they had the suspect at gunpoint still inside his vehicle. Officers pulled the man from his car and placed him under arrest.

Medics responded for the suspect who sustained minor injuries during his arrest. As of this report, the suspect remains in police custody while at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

The reason for the pursuit was not immediately known.

Check back with this report and with my reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World for updates.

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Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Wrong-way driver causes crash south of Lawrence

Posted: January 2, 2019 - 11:44 a.m.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a wrong-way driver caused a head-on crash south of Lawrence on New Year's Day.

Troopers say the crash occurred just after 6 p.m. in the southbound lanes of U.S. 59 Highway at North 1200 Road, or about three-quarters of a mile south of Kansas Highway 10.

The Highway Patrol's preliminary crash report says a 54-year-old Eudora man was driving a 2015 Jeep Wrangler northbound in the southbound lanes of the highway. A 74-year-old Ottawa woman was driving southbound in a 2012 Toyota Camry with her six-year-old grandson as a passenger.

The wrong-way Jeep crashed head-on with the Toyota at the intersection of U.S. 59 and North 1200 Road.

Troopers say the crash caused the Toyota to spin and come to rest in the middle of the intersection, while the wrong-way Jeep stopped on North 1200 Road.

Both drivers were transported to hospitals by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical ambulances. The man driving the Jeep was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital to be checked out. The woman driving the Toyota, along with her grandson, were transported to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center with what Troopers describe as a "suspected minor injury." The six-year-old boy was not injured but was transported with his grandmother until his parents could arrive to be with him.

All three people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.

Troopers arrested the driver of the Jeep for suspicion of DUI, transporting an open container of alcohol, and aggravated battery causing bodily harm while DUI. Formal charges have not been filed.

Operation 100 News does not release the names of individuals involved in crashes unless they are charged with a crime. As of this report, no formal charges have been filed.

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Police investigating parking lot robbery attempt

File image - Mike Frizzell, Operation 100 News
Posted: January 2, 2019 - 8:40 a.m.

Shawnee Police say they're investigating after a man with a gun tried to rob a woman in a parking lot near 62nd Terrace and Pflumm Road on Monday, December 31.

Major Sam Larson says it happened about 6:15 p.m. in the on the west part of the Mill Creek Shopping Center in the 13400 block of West 62nd Terrace. This is the parking lot shared by businesses which include the CVS Pharmacy, The Roxy, and the Mill Creek Animal Hospital. Maj. Larson stresses that the incident had nothing to do with the businesses.

The woman was sitting in her vehicle when she was approached by the suspect who tried to rob her at gunpoint.

Maj. Larson says the victim fled the scene in her vehicle and the suspect was last seen on foot.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 30's. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and armed with a handgun.

Officers set up a perimeter for a search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

Detectives continue to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information can contact the Shawnee Police Department at 913-631-2150 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. Callers to the TIPS Hotline can remain anonymous.

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Man robs Olathe CVS Pharmacy

Posted: January 2, 2019 - 12:44 a.m.
Surveillance images - Click to view larger

Olathe Police say they're investigating after a man robbed the CVS Pharmacy at the corner of West Santa Fe Street and Parker Street (Kansas Highway 7) on New Year's Day.

In a news release, Sergeant Logan Bonney says officers responded about 3:49 p.m. to the business at 1075 West Santa Fe Street.

"The victim told officers that a white male entered the business and demanded money," Sgt. Bonney said. "The suspect threatened the victim with a weapon, but never presented one."

The suspect was described as a white male in his early 20s, about 5ft 8in tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt with a green and blue design, ripped blue jeans, and red gloves with a yellow design.

Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information to call 913-971-7500 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

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Two injured in reported head-on crash in Merriam

Posted: January 2, 2019 - 12:17 a.m.

Police continue to investigate after two people were injured in a crash on a busy Johnson County road on Tuesday afternoon.

Merriam Police say the crash happened just after 2 p.m. in the westbound lanes of 75th Street on the bridge over Interstate 35.

Overland Park Fire Department firefighters arrived to find one of the heavily damaged vehicles on fire and both drivers outside of the cars.

Johnson County Med-Act transported two men to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Police say their injuries are non-life threatening. One of the men is in his late teens, and the other is in his late-20s.

Recorded radio traffic indicates one of the men admitted to drinking "about five beers" before the crash and told police that he was not wearing a seat belt. Radio traffic also stated that witnesses told police this was a head-on crash and at least one of the drivers was ejected through the windshield of his vehicle.

The westbound lanes of 75th Street over Interstate 35 remain closed for several hours as police investigated the crash. All lanes reopened about 9:30 Tuesday evening.

Police have not released the names of the drivers.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, Overland Park Police Department, and the Shawnee Police Department assisted Merriam police at the scene.

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