On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with RCPD Director Dennis Butler.
Author: KMAN Staff
The following summary of calls for service/reports filed by the Riley County Police Department is a portion of those received by police. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to follow local, state, and federal law as well as in an attempt to protect community members from being victimized further. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. MANHATTAN, KAN. – Officers filed a report for theft and criminal damage to property in the 400 block of S. Manhattan Ave. in Manhattan on January 28, 2021, at approximately 7:35 a.m. Officers listed a 33-year-old male…
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Kansas sheriff’s deputy caught on dashcam video running over a Black man who was fleeing shirtless across a field says in a court filing that he accidently struck the man with his patrol truck. Responding to a federal civil rights lawsuit, Kiowa County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Rodriguez denied Thursday that he intentionally swerved his truck to run over Lionel Womack on Aug. 15. Womack says he sustained serious injuries when Rodriguez intentionally drove over him. The video is at the crux of the case alleging the deputy used excessive force. Rodriguez denies the allegations and…
TOPEKA, Kan. — A federal judge has approved a class-action settlement that aims to fix problems in the child welfare system in Kansas. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree said in his ruling Thursday that the agreement provides “real value” to the more than 7,000 children in the foster care system. The judge said it addresses needs identified in the lawsuit an end to extreme housing disruption and inadequate mental health care. While the settlement brings an end to the litigation, Crabtree retained jurisdiction to ensure that it is enforced.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Republican legislators in Kansas have put a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution on the ballot for the state’s August 2022 primary election. The Senate approved the measure Thursday on a 28-11 vote that gave abortion opponents one more vote than the two-thirds majority they needed. The House approved the measure last week. Approval by a simple majority of voters would change the Kansas Constitution. The measure would overturn a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision that found that access to abortion is a “fundamental” right. The measure would not be an abortion ban but would allow…
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Police in Lawrence have found the body of a woman in her home and are investigating her death as a homicide after police in Topeka contacted the Lawrence department with a tip in the case. Lawrence police say in a news release that Topeka police officials reported they had a man in custody for an unrelated investigation who may have been involved in the killing of a Lawrence woman. Lawrence officers who went to the woman’s home on Wednesday found the body of 41-year-old Jennifer Marie Mosby. Police are investigating her death as a homicide, but have…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The operator of a Kansas drug treatment clinic has been indicted on federal charges of drug trafficking. Federal prosecutors for western Missouri said in a news release Thursday that 44-year-old Trevor Robinson has been indicted on one count each of possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and ecstasy, with the intent to distribute the drugs. Robinson is listed as the office manager of Nuvista, an an opioid addiction clinic in Olathe. Prosecutors say the case got its start in October when Kansas City police stopped a 2014 Maserati driven by Robinson and found methamphetamine, pills, cocaine, heroin,…
Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity recently announced a new coalition partnership with other area agencies for workforce housing. The coalition includes K-State’s College of Architecture and Planning, Manhattan Area Technical College, Flint Hills Renewable Energy & Efficiency Cooperative, and Flint Hills Job Corps. Habitat Director Josh Brewer says workforce housing has been identified as a critical need for the Manhattan area. “One of the things we’re wanting to accomplish through this partnership is to increase inventory, specifically housing that’s accessible to part of the population that makes up between 60 and 80 percent of our area’s median income,” he said.…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Public health officials in Kansas are trying to determine whether a coronavirus variant is fueling a new outbreak at a minimum-security state prison with inmates who regularly work in surrounding communities. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said during a Zoom call Wednesday with top leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature that there had been no COVID-19 cases at the Winfield Correctional Facility in the two weeks leading up to a recent outbreak that sickened dozens. She says the state is doing genomic testing to determine whether the outbreak has been caused by recent variants of the virus. Meanwhile, Kansas…
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas gun rights supporters are pushing to lower the age for concealed carry of firearms from 21 to 18. Rep. Blake Carpenter and a Kansas State Rifle Association lobbyist on Wednesday told a state house committee that Kansans under 21 already are allowed to carry guns openly but are breaking the law if they put on a coat to cover a holster. Gun safety advocates criticized the bill, saying younger people have less developed decision making abilities. Permit holders would have to complete a background check and undergo gun safety training.