Author: Brandon Peoples

MANHATTAN — Riley County Police have released more information regarding Monday’s crash at Tuttle Creek Blvd and Allen Road that sent three people to the hospital. Police say the accident happened when a Ford Taurus driven by 83-year-old Patricia Duggan of Manhattan crashed into a Toyota Camry driven by 26-year-old Hang Huynh of Manhattan, at around 11 a.m. Monday. Duggan was transported to Via Christi for treatment of her injuries, then transferred to a Topeka hospital. Huynh was Life Flighted to Topeka for treatment of her injuries. It’s unclear the severity of their injuries. A 2-year-old patient in Huynh’s vehicle…

MANHATTAN — A Topeka man was arrested Monday after leading Riley County Police on a brief pursuit onto Kansas Hwy 18, west of Manhattan. Dylan Wayne Masse, 28, faces four total counts including a charge of flee or attempt to elude, reckless driving, possession of stolen property and operating a car without a required device. According to scanner traffic Monday, the vehicle Massey was in was reported as stolen. The chase was short lived, with officers apprehending Massey around 5:30 p.m. on K-18 just past Scenic Drive. This is not Massey’s first run in with the law. On May 27,…

MANHATTAN — The Riley County Police Department has been approved for its $22.1 million budget for fiscal year 2020. (A link to the budget slideshow from RCPD can be found here) The budget was adopted following a public hearing during Monday’s monthly meeting of the Riley County Law Board. The total amount was a 2.8 percent increase over the 2019 approved budget, offset by over $91,000 in unused funds left over from 2018. Law Board Chair and Manhattan Mayor Mike Dodson thanked department heads for their work in crafting the budget. RCPD Director Dennis Butler credited his staff, who he…

MANHATTAN — An electrical issue caused smoke in the basement of a Kansas State University building Monday afternoon. Manhattan Fire Department officials were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. to Trotter Hall, located south of the KSU Veterinary Hospital for the report of a structure fire. When they arrived, they noticed smoke filling the basement and the building was evacuated. As a precaution, electricity to the building was shut off before the building got the all clear. Manhattan Fire PIO Ryan Almes confirms there was no fire with this incident. No injuries were reported.

MANHATTAN — After much anticipation, Riley County Police Department officials on Monday unveiled its new Lenco Bearcat armored vehicle to members of the Riley County Law Board. The primary function of the vehicle is providing ballistic protection for officers in high risk situations. In the past, RCPD has relied on outside agencies, such as Junction City Police or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for such response in those types of incidents. RCPD Tactical Team Leader, Lt. Brad Jager says having one available at a moment’s notice, is a welcome benefit to officers. The vehicle was built on a 2019 Ford…

OGDEN, Kan. — A Junction City man is jailed in Riley County on charges of aggravated robbery and burglary. The Riley County Police Department says 31-year-old Fredrick Swinson was arrested just after 1 a.m. Monday at 1823 College Ave. (Ascension Via Christi Hospital). He’s charged with three counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated burglary. Swinson also has a past drug conviction from 2008, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He remains jailed on a $100,000 bond. According to police, the incident occurred in the 300 block of North Park Street in Ogden at around noon Saturday.…

MANHATTAN — There was reason to celebrate Saturday in Manhattan City Park at the 30th annual Juneteenth festivities. Daphne Maxwell, vice chair of the Kansas African American Commision, gave a strong opening statement to event goers Saturday morning as the celebration kicked off. Maxwell spoke to event goers Saturday about the importance of Juneteenth in the community. She says the celebration matters for a variety of reasons, but touted freedom as the primary reason for Juneteenth. Juneteenth is celebrated each year as the anniversary of the June 19, 1865, when slaves were freed in the United States following the Emancipation…

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — A meth lab was discovered early Saturday morning in the 300 block of North Washington Street. The Junction City-Geary County Drug Operations Group conducted a search warrant in reference to a methamphetamine manufacturing investigation. As a result, a clandestine meth lab was located and processed. Avery Louis Pierson, 35, of Junction City was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and felony interference with law enforcement. Assisting on scene were the Junction City Police Department, along with the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, Grandview Plaza Police Department…

RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — The Kansas Highway Patrol says three people were injured in a Friday evening crash on US 24 in Riley County. A passenger car driven by 35-year-old Amanda Neipert of Manhattan was westbound on Hwy 24 just after 5 p.m. attempting to make a left turn onto South Dam Road. It failed to yield the right of way and was struck by an eastbound passenger car, driven by 19-year-old Layton Ross, also of Manhattan. Neipert was transported to Ascension Via Christi with a suspected minor injury. KHP says Ross also was transported. His injuries were suspected to…

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Sentencing is coming next month for a Wamego man connected to the stabbing death of a teenager in late 2018. According to Pottawatomie County Attorney Sherri Schuck, 24-year-old Cody Lamia-Beck entered a no contest plea Friday to a charge of intentional second-degree murder of Jacob Bouck. The court was presented evidence of the crime and Judge Jeff Elder subsequently found Lamia-Beck guilty. That evidence included two knives, a homemade hatchet, which also had Lamia-Beck’s DNA, multiple stab wounds to the victim’s head and neck and a confession from Lamia-Beck. That confession was consistent with the evidence located…