Author: Brandon Peoples

Riley County Police are investigating a stabbing incident from last Friday that resulted in one arrest. Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex near 9th and Humboldt Street shortly after 6:30 p.m. finding a 34-year-old male victim was suffering from a stab wound. Police later arrested 45-year-old Henry Lee Morgan, of Manhattan. He faces a single charge of aggravated battery and remains jailed on a $100,000 bond. The victim was transported Ascension Via Christi, and later to a larger hospital for more acute care. Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

Deputy Manhattan City Manager Jason Hilgers will assume the role of interim city manager next month, upon the retirement of long-time City Manager Ron Fehr. City commissioners approved a contract agreement at Tuesday’s legislative meeting that will pay Hilgers his base salary plus 13%, while he maintains his current position and the interim role, which will begin on April 19 until a successor is selected. “Once the interim role is complete, I’ll return back to my role as deputy city manager,” Hilgers said following Tuesday’s meeting. Hilgers, who has worked with the City of Manhattan for 24 years says he…

Authorities are investigating a report of criminal damage to property in the northern edge of Riley County. According to the Riley County Police Department, a 39-year-old man reported Monday that someone damaged his 2003 John Deere tractor by plugging a coolant line to the air cooler with a rifle shell casing. The incident occurred in the 1200 block of Green-Randolph Road in Randolph. Police say damage associated with this incident is around $32,000. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers.

A federal grand jury has indicted a Junction City couple of fraudulently obtaining disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Justice announced Monday that 47-year-old James Bradford and 45-year-old Equanda Bradford, are each charged with single counts of conspiracy and theft of public money, property or records. James is a U.S. Army veteran. He and his wife are accused of providing false and fraudulent information to the VA about his caregiver needs and her care giving functions. All told, the pair received over $172,000 in disability compensation they were not entitled to, according to a news…

Two more board members have resigned from the Riley County USD 378 school board. Nathan Mead and Justin Ricketts announced their decisions to step down Monday. It’s the latest in a series of events that have transpired since early January when the new board suspended and later removed Superintendent Cliff Williams. Mead says in eight years on the board, only the last two months had he experienced the board commitments like hiring a law firm and a private investigator without board action first to contract those services. “This new board majority has made removing Mr. Williams their primary focus. In…

The Riley County Police Department updated information on an incident that occurred Sunday afternoon in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Place.

Law enforcement officials kept busy amid annual Fake Patty’s Day celebrations in Manhattan. The Riley County Police Department, which has made a more concerted effort to maintain order this year, especially in the neighborhoods east of campus, issued 79 citations between 10:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. Saturday. This is on top of 20 citations issued Saturday morning. Most of the citations have been for open container violations, followed by multiple citations for minor in possession. Police issued three citations for disturbing the peace while three citations were made for urinating in public. Police say a total of six arrests had…

Riley County commissioners moved Thursday to fill a seat on the 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission. Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Jan Marks to replace Johanna Lyle, whose four year term expires on Monday. Marks will be one of four non-lawyer members appointed to the commission. She will serve a four year term. Marks is a retired managing partner with Varney & Associates. The nominating commission consists of four attorney lawyer members and four non-lawyer members who nominate persons to the office of District Judge and make appointments to the office of District Magistrate Judge. Supreme Court Justice Caleb…

A Manhattan man is jailed on an attempted murder charge stemming from an incident two years ago. The Riley County Police Department says 39-year-old Jeremy Spaur, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant alleging charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon. An online criminal complaint alleges Spaur tried to kill another man during an altercation on Feb. 12, 2022. Spaur also is charged with a probation violation and failure to appear stemming from original charges of driving with a suspended license. He remains jailed on a bond of $314,800.

A Wamego woman was involved in an injury crash early Wednesday morning in Leavenworth County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 60-year-old Sandra Keough, was eastbound on Interstate 70, shortly before 2:30 a.m., when her Volkswagen Passat rear ended a semi. Authorities say Keough had just minor injuries. A 54-year-old male passenger from Texas also sustained minor injuries. Both were treated at KU Medical Center. The truck driver had no listed injuries.