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Wichita police officers open fire on a robbery suspect

Reported by: Justin Kraemer
Email: jkraemer@ksn.com
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Published: 2/03 3:36 am
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Updated: 2/03 5:37 pm

WICHITA, Kansas -- Wichita police opened fire on a burglary suspect after they say he drove his truck straight at them.  Police say he was caught in the act of stealing gas twice early Friday morning and ran from officers both times before he got stuck in a wheat field and was captured by officers.

It started around 12:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of S. Bebe.

Police were checking an audible alarm in the area when they say they saw the suspect filling up three tanks with diesel fuel.

"A lot of alarms were going off at the same time because of the weather that was coming in but officers did arive at this location," said Lt. Ken Landwehr.

He allegedly pointed his truck at officers, blasting through a fence as police fired away, taking out his front windshield.

"He jumped into his Dodge truck, crashed through a gate driving straight at the two officers," said Lt. Landwehr.

Police believe he also drove through a lawn and struck a car on S. Richmond during his getaway.

A few hours later, the sheriff's office got a call about another gas theft on East 77th Street.

"The same vehicle again was attempting to steal fuel," said Landwehr. 

Steve Green lives on E. 77th St. and saw the suspect with Sheriff's deputies following close behind.

"A white truck pulled in past the shed you see there and turned around and just came back out," said Green.  "He didn't stop other to turn around."

With deputies in pursuit, the suspect allegedly drove into a nearby field.

Officers from several agencies surrounded the field and, through a driving rain, started walking the area.

They found the suspect's truck about a half mile from the road, near 69th and Webb.

"It was abandoned and the suspect was found laying in the field by a Sedgwick County Sheriffs officer and he was taken into custody," said Landwehr.

The suspect faces a long list of charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on police, criminal destruction of property and theft.

"I'm glad he caught him because all too often we got broken into out here and no one gets caught," said Green.

The man was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant.

Police say the truck he was using was stolen.

Investigators believe the suspect may also be tied to several other similar burglaries in other Kansas counties.
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RealPerson - 2/5/2012 11:19 PM
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AMAZEME -- yeah I cam back. Ok say the office jumped out of the way like you wanted him to. then this guy kept crashing through stuff, fences and so on, think maybe there might be children or other people around? Maybe run into a house, store, anything? This office was not only protecting himself, but others around him in the area. You even quoted the justification. He pointed the vehicle at the officer. Sorry everyone knows you will be shot at.
colorcoded - 2/3/2012 10:13 PM
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Sorry amazezme - you are just wrong. Accept it. Own it. Again - someone who thinks they have figured it all out from the comfort of thier cheetos-stained sofa. I am also certain that if you had to choose between a cop shooting a thieving scumbag, or that scumbag shooting you (or running you down with his truck), that you would have the cop shoot the scumbag. Maybe what you should do, since you are so certain the officer could have just jumped out of the way, is head right on out into the street and try it for yourself. You have just won the Donkey Award. EEEEaaaawwwww.
Onlooker - 2/3/2012 7:58 PM
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Amazed, I'm a little confused. Why are you defending a criminal. Last time I looked stealing is a crime. Aiming a moving vehicle at anyone..LEO or civilian is a crime. Would you be defending this POS if it wasn't an officer. You have no idea of the training that they go through. This 24 yr old had no regard for anyone. He got caught in the act, why didn't he just stop and get himself arrested. Instead he pointed his vehicle at the officer, his goal was to take out the officer. Hence a crime, what if his careless driving hit a civilian. Would you be defending the criminal. Or ditching the officer not stopping him. The lack of training as you call it, was training he got to do his job. And no matter what any LEO, too many keep backing the criminal. The officer did the right thing to take him out. He got another POS off the street. I'm getting real tired of reading how criminals are trying to take over Wichita. And people like you side with criminal. I hope you are never on the receiving end of someone like this. And before you make a smart ass comment...I don't like guns. But when a LEO is doing his job..I will back them hundred percent. And I read the first article..still stand behind the officer. And not the criminal.
amazesme - 2/3/2012 7:05 PM
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ColorCoded: you didn't see the story at first writing this morning. The facts of which you comment were not part of that writing. The story has been updated significantly since then. Por Exemple: The fence was not mentioned. So, again, the questions I asked were based on the author's original writing, not the rewrite. Why do people want the police to discharge their weapons at fellow humans? Wow! Quoting the story "He allegedly pointed his truck at officers, blasting through a fence as police fired away, taking out his front windshield. "He jumped into his Dodge truck, crashed through a gate driving straight at the two officers," said Lt. Landwehr." Can you people not see, even now, how much time the officer had to react? A lot. Yet, the solution was to shoot someone for stealing diesel, or being PC, allegedly stealing diesel fuel. I am sorry, but if there is time to fire a weapon twice(even double taps) their is time to make an evasive move for self protection. It seems the goal of the officer was more to stop the driver than care for human life. I am not bagging the officer. I could not do what he does. I am concerned about the training his is given. Maybe be stated, lack of training.
RealPerson - 2/3/2012 7:01 PM
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Who cares how the KSN people report it. It is just a bunch of RUN AROUND, and hypathetical from you. If you are worried about how KSN reports it, you might have to find another news place. KSN, in my opnion sucks at most articles. I didn't even read more than the person tried to run the officer over, and the office fired. I am sure they are plenty of witnesses and all that to figure out all the details. As far as me, Don't worry I do just fine! Quit deflecting. Kinda funny how you are the only one so far defending the thief! (or should I say) how it is reported, and something MUST be wrong. BYE
colorcoded - 2/3/2012 6:44 PM
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What "amazesme" is that the only thing that makes any sense in your first post is that this may or may be explained entirely. The truck was going fast enough to go through a fence, and the suspect drove through said fence AT the officers instead of running AWAY from the officers. That should tell you something. Save your opinion until after the facts come out - then you wont be called out for being such a tool. I am going to have to agree with everyone EXCEPT you on this one, amazesme.
amazesme - 2/3/2012 5:26 PM
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So RealPerson, you still haven't addressed my first post. You are a 'flame thrower'. Shame. You are incapable of dealing with substance. Deep thought eludes you. No problem. You are probably apart of the 99% occupy movement. Television? Don't watch it. You on the other hand must. My guess is "The Simpsons". I read and do things with real humans. You, well, have another beer and think about getting ready for another day punching the clock.
RealPerson - 2/3/2012 4:26 PM
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Yes, even if the officer is standing in the EXIT, and the criminal tries to Flee and run over ANYONE, it is self Defense! Thanks for playing!
amazesme - 2/3/2012 3:04 PM
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Thinking out of the box? The article did not state where the officer was standing in relationship to the perp. If the officer was standing in the exit and one is driving a car towards that exit, then is that an attempt to run over the officer or an attempt to escape? Again, if there is time to shoot there is time to move. I personally have no problem with protecting one's life or the life of another, but the officer is trained (????) and that should not be the resolution to stop the perp of a property crime. What was the background to the shots? Buildings, I235, residential properties? We don't know because the article does not tell us. So, I am dealing specifically with the author's words. My questioning was of the actions based on the author's words. When ridiculing my comments base your response against what I wrote and the author's words.
Onlooker - 2/3/2012 2:49 PM
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Wow, I can't believe how many are actually defending the officer. Nice. my faith is actually restored that you're not all cop haters when there is an officer involved incident. It is hard to be a Law Enforcement Officer. they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. But Amaze, your comment "adrenalin junkie is allowed to be an officer". How did this officer become an adrenalin junkie. Yes, maybe the officer could have jumped out of the way, but he was going to try and stop that vehicle first or at least try and than hopefully get out of the way. As per the article, this young suspect had been carrying on stealing for awhile. And than he got in his vehicle and attempted to flee a crime, he was doing... Instead of trying to get away from the police. He pointed his vehicle right at that officer. Seems to me, this young suspect had no regard for the life of this officer, any citizen that might have been on the street, nor his own life. Officer, job well done. You not only got another criminal off the street, you went home safely to your family.
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