Updated at 12:40 p.m. Friday:
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department has issued a news release regarding the Staples incident, indicating on December 26th, at about 6:55 a.m. Pottawatomie County Sheriff Deputies responded to a call of smoke coming from the Staples business at 632 Tuttle Creek Blvd Manhattan, Pottawatomie County. A responding Deputy while checking the building located a hole in the North side of the structure that was occupied by Short Go at 634 Tuttle Creek Blvd.
Deputies discovered a vehicle had driven through the exterior wall of the structure leading into the back of the Short Go business, through that business and then damaging the interior wall to the Staples business. The vehicle was then able to exit the building and fled the scene.
At about 7:09 a.m. the Riley County Police received a report that a vehicle was located at 510 Tuttle Creek Blvd, Manhattan that looked like it may have been the vehicle involved in this incident. Sheriff Deputies went to the vehicle in question at 510 Tuttle Creek Blvd and discovered items of evidence associated with the vehicle, indicating this vehicle was involved with the incident to the Short Go, and Staples building.
The vehicle was a 1996 Buick Century. The driver of the vehicle was located shortly after the car was located. The driver was located in the immediate area that the vehicle was. He was taken into custody for leaving the scene of an accident.
The driver, Jason Lee Butler, 36, of Marysville Kansas, suffered minor injures and is being held at the Pottawatomie County Jail pending bond. This incident remains under investigation at this time.
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Updated at Noon:
Staples General Manager Lee Overley tells KMAN the vehicle involved in striking his building early Friday morning has been located at the Motel 6–an older white car, with two flat tires, extensive damage, and cinder blocks from the building in the front seat. He admits it was a shock when he walked up to the front door and saw smoke shortly before 7 a.m.–and realized when he entered the second door there was a problem, with the vehicle going through Short Go and another eight or 10 feet into his building.
He hopes to re-open by nine a.m. Saturday. He jokingly says this way he didn’t have to work on return items Friday…and that he now has a drive-thru he didn’t anticipate on having.
Overley’s interview with KMAN follows:
Updated 10 a.m.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s office has confirmed a motor vehicle accident early Friday morning, with the vehicle entering a building in the 600 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard, identified as the one housing Short Go and Staples.
Manhattan Deputy Chief Ryan Almes tells KMAN the vehicle entered the north side of the building and then pulled back out, probably causing smoke from its tires.
Update 8:30 a.m.
KMAN has confirmed a car ran into Staples, with it being discovered shortly before 7 a.m.
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Some type of incident was reported at Staples in the 600 block of Tuttle Creek Boulevard, and Riley County Police are asking the public to avoid the area. RCPD is describing the case as only an investigation, but other reports indicate some smoke in the building reported just before seven a.m. There have been other reports of a door wide open or some type of opening in the building’s front area.
Indications are that shortly before 7:30 a.m. emergency personnel were leaving the area.
There were also indications of some type of investigation at Motel 6 just a few blocks away, but that could not be confirmed with law enforcement authorities.
