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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Police asking for tips in Sunday morning stabbing

Posted: January 25, 2015 - 2:43am
Updated: January 27, 2015 - 12:42am

Lawrence Police detectives continue to investigate a stabbing that occurred early Sunday morning and are asking for the public's assistance.

A 19-year-old man remained hospitalized in stable condition at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Sunday evening, after he was stabbed in an attempted robbery around 2:20 Sunday morning.

File photo - Operation 100 News, Mike Frizzell

Officers located the victim near West Sixth Street and Monterey Way. Police say the victim sustained numerous injuries, including stab wounds.

Medics transported the victim to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

In a news release on Monday, Sergeant Trent McKinley says, "investigators believe the incident began after the victim left a nightclub in the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street just before 2:00 a.m. The victim conversed with individuals before entering a vehicle near the nightclub."

Police believe the suspects intended to rob the victim and began beating on him as the vehicle traveled through downtown Lawrence.

According to the news release, "the occupants of the vehicle were described as a black male driver, a black or Hispanic mixed race male, a "short" Hispanic female, and the white male victim."

"Near Eighth and Rhode Island, east of downtown, the vehicle stopped briefly and the victim attempted to flee. The suspects fought with the victim and pulled him back into the vehicle which then left the area," according to McKinley.

A witness described the vehicle as a dark colored, older sedan, in good condition.

In the area of Eighth and Monterey Way, the victim was able to get out of the vehicle and run from the suspects.

"Blood was located outside one home in the area, therefore officers are searching the area for additional evidence."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Lawrence Police at 785-832-7509 or Douglas County CrimeStoppers at 785-843-8477. Calls to CrimeStoppers can be made anonymously and callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1000 for information leading to an arrest.

Read more on this story from my reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World.

Check back with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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105-year-old woman rescued from Leavenworth County house fire

Posted: May 13, 2014 - 4:54am
Updated: May 13, 2014 - 6:24am


Firefighters in Tonganoxie rescued an elderly woman from her burning home just before 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Crews were called to the home at 116 East Sixth Street around 4:50 a.m..

Police arrived on the scene to report heavy smoke coming from the roof of the single story home. A family member, who lives next door, told officers that there was an elderly female in a front bedroom who was unable able to make it out on her own.

Firefighters arrived to report the fire was just inside the front door. After about five minutes, firefighters reported that the woman had been rescued from the structure and was with an EMS unit that was standing by at the scene.

Operation 100 has learned that the female is 105-years-old and she was transported by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

A second EMS unit has been called to the scene to standby as firefighters work to extinguish the fire.

No one else was injured.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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Couple attacked, man stabbed in Lawrence park

Posted: March 31, 2014 - 2:17am

Updated: March 31, 2014 - 11:14pm

Lawrence Police at Centennial Park
6 News Lawrence photo
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Lawrence Police are investigating after a man was found stabbed at Centennial Park early Monday.

Officers were called to the west side of the park, located in the 600 block of Rockledge Road, around 1:30 a.m. on reports of a man injured from a fight.

Lawrence Medics reported the man had been stabbed multiple times and described his injuries as serious. He was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police spokeswoman Kim Murphree tells Operation 100 News' reporting partners at 6 News Lawrence, a 31-year-old male and a 26-year-old female met officers in the park to report that the man had been attacked. When police arrived they found the victim injured from multiple lacerations.

6 News reports, the couple reported that they were walking from the Hillcrest Shopping Center at 9th and Iowa Streets to the man's home in the 3000 block of West 7th Street when they were approached by man. Little details are known about what was said, but at some point the two men got into a physical fight.

Google Earth image of Centennial Park
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According to the victim, the suspect didn't steal from the couple or threaten them in any way. However, the victim also told police that he and the woman he was with were having a verbal argument as they walked across the Pool Room parking lot toward the park.

Police officers determined that the fight took place near the southwest corner of the park in a grassy area.

The victim was only able to give police a very vague description of an approximately 6ft tall, 200lbs man.

No one has been arrested and police continue to investigate.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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Lawrence man charged with attempted first-degree murder in Valentine's day shooting

Posted: February 14, 2014 - 2:47am
Updated: June 27, 2014 - 4:13am

Jury finds Valentine’s Day shooter guilty of attempted first-degree murder, other charges, June 25 report from reporting partners at 6News Lawrence.

Victim describes being shot multiple times in Perry Park confrontation; suspect facing trial, March 12 report from reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World

Original Report:

Douglas County Prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old Lawrence man in connection with the Valentine's day shooting of another man in Lawrence.

Video from Operation 100 News reporting partners at 6 News Lawrence

Lawrence Police were called to L.R. "Dad" Perry Park, 1200 Monterey Way, by the shooting victim just before 2:15 a.m.. Officers located the victim inside his vehicle in the north parking lot of the park, near the intersection of Harvard Road and Lakecrest Road.

Medics reported the victim's injuries to be critical. The victim, later identified as 36-year-old Anthony Widsom, was transported to a Topeka area trauma center by a LifeStar helicopter. The helicopter landed in Lawrence in front of the Hy-Vee store near W. 6th Street & Monterey Way.

Photo provided by Evan Elzea, @evanelzea on Twitter
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Used with permission

Sgt. Hayden Fowler with the Lawrence Police Department tells Operation 100 New partners at 6News that the victim was alert and able to tell police the name of the man who allegedly shot him. The suspect, J.D. Turner, and the victim knew each other and were involved in a verbal altercation before the shooting occurred.

Officers were familiar with alleged suspect and a vehicle he is known to drive. That vehicle was located at the Kwik Shop near 23rd & Harper just before 3 a.m.. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

The victim remains hospitalized Friday afternoon.

After being interviewed, Turner was arrested and later booked into the Douglas County Jail. He faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder. His bond has been set at $250,000.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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Lawrence Arby's Restaurant damaged by fire

Posted: September 17, 2013 - 9:17pm
Updated: September 17, 2013 - 10:23pm

Google Earth image of the area
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Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical crews were called to the Arby's Restaurant, 4671 W. 6th Street, around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a fire.

Firefighters arrived to find a small fire on the exterior of the building.

The fire was quickly extinguished and damage is said to be minor. Firefighters pulled several sections of siding from the building to confirm that the fire was out.

The fire is believed to have started behind the sign on the side of the building, the exact cause remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

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Photos | Two-alarm fire breaks out at Lawrence Burger King

Posted: August 12, 2013 - 1:40am
Updated: August 12, 2013 - 8:22am

Photo credit and copyright: John Hamm
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Around 1:15 a.m. Monday, Lawrence fire crews were called to the Burger King at 1107 W. 6th Street on reports of smoke from the roof of the building. This address is on the southeast corner of 6th and Missouri Streets

Firefighters arrived and quickly found visible fire on the roof and then in the attic area of the building. Employees told arriving crews that everyone had made it out of the building.

Incident command ordered a second alarm response at 1:20 a.m..

At 1:40 a.m., crews reported that they had knocked down the bulk of the fire. Crews are making their way back inside the building to extinguish hot spots after initially fighting the fire from the exterior only.

Photo credit and copyright: John Hamm
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As of this report, no injuries have been reported.

The fire was reported to be under control shortly after 2 a.m..

Lawrence Police have requested barricades to close 6th Street between Arkansas and Maine Streets. Missouri Street between 6th and 7th is also closed.

Operation 100 News report on the Lawrence Journal-World's website.

Google Earth image of the area
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Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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Off-duty police officer killed in Wednesday morning crash

Posted: January 2, 2013 - 3:01am
Updated: January 3, 2013 - 12:42am

Lawrence police officer Matthew Edward Klock, 29
Photo provided by the Lawrence Police Department

Update:

Lawrence Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed early Wednesday evening that the man killed in this morning's accident was an off-duty Lawrence police officer.

Troopers say Officer Matthew Edward Klock, 29, was killed when his 2012 Nissan Altima collided with a pole near W. 6th Street and Wakarusa Drive.

The Kansas Highway Patrol crash log of the incident says that Klock's vehicle was eastbound on the inside lane of 6th Street, when the vehicle went left of center and struck a light pole on the east side of the intersection with Wakarusa Drive. Klock was not wearing a seat belt. Troopers continue to investigate what, if any, role alcohol or slick roads may have played in the accident's cause.

Klock joined the Lawrence Police Department in 2007.

Lawrence Police Sergeant Trent McKinley told 6 News Lawrence that "a member of the force drove to Derby, Kansas, where Klock grew up, to personally notify family members this morning."

Original report:

Lawrence Police are investigating this morning after one person was fatally injured in an apparent single vehicle accident.

Officers were initially dispatched on a non-injury accident at the intersection of W. 6th Street and Wakarusa Drive just after 2:15 Wednesday morning.

On arrival at 2:20 a.m., officers reported the lone occupant of the vehicle was unconscious. Medics were immediately dispatched to the scene and upon their arrival reported one vehicle with "major damage".

The occupant was initially said to be in critical condition as of 2:30 a.m.. Medics pronounced the person to be deceased at the scene, just before 2:40 a.m..

Police have shutdown the intersection completely as they investigate the accident.

Very few details were immediately available. It remains unclear what the vehicle struck.

Report from Operation 100 News' reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

You saw this story as it broke from Operation 100 News on Twitter. No details from any Kansas City area media until after 5:30 a.m., 20 minutes after this report was shared on Operation 100's public twitter account (@Op100News).

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