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Recent Highlights and Press Releases
City okays tasers for officers
By Michael McDermott - Augusta Gazette
Tue Oct 20, 2009, 10:03 AM CDT
“I’m done. That hurts,” said the combative individual during a recent neighborhood fight incident and subsequent trip to the police station. He has just been tasered.
The intoxicated and resistive subject suffered a facial cut and spit blood at officers as he was taken to the station holding cell where the ranting continued. As he was being transferred from cell to vehicle, a sheriff’s deputy used a taser to subdue the subject. He became more cooperative after that taser sting.
After hearing about that incident and listening to additional research information furnished by Safety Chief Tyler Brewer and?Officer Chad McCluskey, the Augusta City Council voted Monday night to allow purchase of 18 Electro-Muscular Disruptive Devices (EMDDs), aka tasers, for by the Augusta Department of Public Safety.
The cost was reported to be around $20,000, during discussion, and will be funded by a $7,380 donation from LakePoint Nursing Center as well as monies from drug seizures and departmental equipment funds.
After the vote, Councilman Tom Leffler invited and encouraged other businesses to contribute to safety department needs.
Chief Brewer said use of the taser for officer protection depends on the “dynamics of the situation” and added he would not put up with officers using them as a short cut until all methods of verbal persuasion were exhausted.
Brewer furnished a detailed policy for training, use, and maintenance of tasers by department patrol officers.
2009 Kansas State School Resource Officer of the Year is part of ADPS Family
July 13, 2009: School Resource Officer Brian Smith has worked a number of years to put a positive face on the Augusta Department of Safety for students at Augusta Middle School and as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) officer at the elementary schools.
In a special ceremony in Topeka last Thursday, Officer Smith, an 11-year veteran of Augusta’s law enforcement force, was named the Kansas School Resource Officer of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Kansas Juvenile Officers Association, comprised of the Kansas Association of Kansas Resource Officers and the Kansas D.A.R.E. Officers Association, who each year selects one of their own for outstanding service, programs, and duties.
Chief Tyler Brewer of the Augusta Department of Safety, bragged on Smith. “It’s an honor that he can be proud of -- he was chosen by his peers for his contributions to the association, his department, the community, and especially, the school district for promoting those ideals of safety and education in our schools.”
Smith was surprised to hear that he’d been selected as the SRO Officer of the Year. “It’s great working for a community such as Augusta when I’m given so much support from the citizens and the Department of Safety. I enjoy the task of watching over and guiding the children of USD 402. I know that I help guard Fort Knox -- there’s nothing more important than our children,” he added, “I will continue to do my best in working with our schools along with the department and make our schools safe from all threats.”
Smith’s presence in the middle school goes far beyond that of a glorified hall monitor -- or even a security guard. Although the place has a “safer” atmosphere when he’s on duty, Smith likes to think of himself as a friend and mentor to the students.
“Brian is highly recognized by the youth in this community and for me, it’s especially evident every year at the Bugs Bunny Club when he’s mauled by kids -- of all ages. I believe his great rapport with kids is due to the fact that he’s just a big kid at heart,” Chief Brewer added.
ADPS Officers Recognized for "Pivotal" Role in Saving Residents Life
March 5, 2009 - Two safety department sergeants and an officer were publicly recognized Monday night for assisting Robert Musiel who was in full cardiac arrest when they arrived at his home one night in January.
When they arrived at 931 Lulu, they immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to help him breathe.
The first responders to the ambulance call were Safety Officer Tim Weber, and Sergeant Chad McCluskey. Sergeant Mike Stueven was next on scene and he continued CPR and he rode with the patient in the ambulance trip to Kansas Medical Center in Andover.
Josh Whiteside of Butler County EMS later reported Mr. Musiel was in fair condition at the hospital. He said the officers’ assistance was “pivotal in saving the man’s life.”
Augusta Safety Chief Tyler Brewer reported on the Jan. 11 call to the Augusta City Council Monday night before bestowing “Life Saving” awards to the men of his department. The chief quoted the department awards policy: “The Life Saving Award shall be awarded to any member of the Augusta Department of Public Safety or an other Volunteer Safety Officer who is directly responsible for the saving of a human life. Documentation and supporting evidence must be included to substantiate the award, such as statements from witnesses, physicians, or supervisors. The award may also be made where evidence suggests that actions by the department member prolonged a human life to the extent that the victim was released to the care of medical authorities.” After careful review, the Awards Committee was unanimous in their vote to award the Life Saving Award to Sergeant E. Chad McCluskey, Sergeant Michael D. Stueven, and Officer Timothy G. Weber. The officers’ actions exemplify the principles and basic mission of the Augusta Department of Safety and the Awards Committee is proud and honored to bestow this decoration upon them,” said Chief Brewer.
ADpS Officers are blue...
On Monday, August 20, 2007, Augusta Department of Public Safety officers made a change from the tan uniforms to a more traditional navy blue. The uniforms were purchased as an effort to save money as the tan uniforms were getting harder and harder to find/replace and the new uniforms are a standard color, which in turn is able to be acquired at a lower price.
Traveling boy, dog found by officers, returned to mother
Published: Thursday, May 31, 2007 10:18 AM CDT by Augusta Gazette
Four-year-old Wesley Westover and his puppy, Bingo, went on an adventure Sunday night, unbeknownst to those in his household. Both were barefooted.
When mother Dawnita discovered her son was gone, she phoned the Augusta Department of Public Safety to report him missing and started her own search.
In less than a half hour, safety officers responded to a call from Dillons that a youngster had left the store without paying for some items - a transformer toy and packaged lunch item. That was Wesley.
They took the slender boy to his home in the Oak Ridge Park.
Home again, he told his mother he was getting something for his older brother whom he thought was upset with him. There was some speculation if the boy followed the dog or the dog followed the boy.
“I made him show me how he walked to the store,” said Dawnita. “He went out of the park, south on Custer Lane to Twelfth Street, to Ohio, and then north to Dillons,” she said. “A neighborhood girl had reported Bingo and Wesley near Thirteenth & Ohio and told the safety officers.”
Bingo was outside the store, but officers weren't looking for a dog. Later, the officers returned the black and white canine to the Westovers.
Wesley will begin kindergarten this fall and have a good “What Did I Do This Summer?” story to tell on the first day of school.
“I'm thankful for all who helped me with the search for Wesley.” said Dawnita, ”and especially the officers who returned him to me.”
Augusta Chief plucks teen from river
Published in the Wichita Eagle, Friday, May 25, 2007
Recent heavy rains turn usual swimming hole at Augusta spillway into dangerous waters for 15-year-old Dylan Certain.
BY STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle
Photos from the rescue
Randy Certain was at his job as an Augusta city employee Wednesday when he heard a call come over the police radio for a water rescue on the Walnut River.
"I turned to my co-workers and said, 'Thank goodness that ain't my kid,' " he said.
Dylan Certain was a good swimmer, and his father figured he wouldn't do anything to get himself in trouble.
He was wrong.
Dylan Certain was fighting for his life on his 15th birthday at the spillway of the Walnut on the south end of Augusta. That spot is a popular swimming hole in normal conditions, but runoff from recent heavy rains had transformed it into a potential death trap.
Dylan was eager to show his classmates from Augusta High School that he was a good swimmer, so he jumped in.
"He was trying to impress some girls," Augusta Department of Public Safety Chief Tyler Brewer said.
The surface seemed calm -- but then Dylan was caught in an undertow and couldn't get free.
When his friends realized he was in trouble, they called 911.
The moment Brewer arrived at the spillway, he recognized the danger. More than one person has died there in similar circumstances over the years, he said.
The undertow would pull Dylan toward the spillway, suck him under the surface and then "spit him back out," Brewer said.
Dylan was becoming exhausted. Time was running out.
"He basically looked over and said he was done, and started to go under," Brewer said.
Brewer is a certified rescue swimmer who also teaches scuba diving in Wichita, but he knew that it would be a difficult rescue.
"If we make the swim without a vest, we'd end up with two people in trouble," Brewer said.
But other officers arrived with rescue gear, so Brewer was able to don a vest, tie a rope around himself and swim into the river.
By that time, Dylan had been underwater for perhaps 30 seconds. Brewer was about to plunge under the water to look for Dylan when the boy bobbed up right next to Brewer.
"I think God's hands were in play right there," Brewer said. "It was pretty incredible. I thought he had had it."
Brewer grabbed Dylan and told him to hang on.
They made it back to the river's edge, and Dylan was taken to Wesley Medical Center, where he was in fair condition Thursday afternoon with water in his lungs and other complications.
With area streams and rivers swollen by more heavy rains this week, Brewer worries that more people will do what Dylan did: jump in without realizing how dangerous it has become.
"These kids need to stay out of this water," Brewer said. "That was the hardest swim. It was only a matter of 25 yards at the most. But it was almost impossible to swim in. If I hadn't been tied off (by a rope), it would have gotten me, too. The undertow is incredible."
Randy Certain learned of the rescue when he got home from work.
At the hospital, Certain said he told his son, "'If things had gone a little differently, we would have been picking out a coffin for you today. You got a second chance -- you better make the most of it.'
"I think he's learned his lesson. He isn't going anywhere near the river again."
Driver's flight ends southeast of Augusta
Published in the Augusta Gazette Friday, April 13, 2007 12:21 PM CDT
The chase stopped near SW 120th and Hopkins Switch when the fleeing vehicle crashed Thursday evening. Gazette photo by Michael McDermott
The flight of a speeding driver from Sumner County ended at the intersection of SW 120th & Hopkins Switch Road, southeast of Augusta, around 5:30 Thursday night.
James J. Downtain, 24, Wichita, flashed through the south part of Augusta ahead of chasing sheriff patrol vehicle. He drove around spikes on U.S. 77 Highway south of Augusta and was northbound on Walnut Street before he turned around and zoomed southward on U.S. 77.
Sheriff's Captain Don Currier said Downtain turned east at SW 20th and crashed while attempting a turn at SW 120th & Hopkins Switch.
Downtain was in custody at the Butler County Jail today on charges of felony fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, driving while license is suspended and miscellaneous traffic counts.
He was pursued into Butler County by lawmen from Mulvane, according to Capt. Currier's report. The Mulvane officers pursued Downtain to SW 210th & Santa Fe Lake Road, west of Douglass.
The car, a 2004 Dodge Intrepid, reached speeds of 80 miles an hour in the City of Douglass before it turned northward on U.S. 77.
A sheriff's officer put down road spikes in the northbound lane of the highway near the tree farm south of Augusta. to slow the speeding vehicle.
Downtain and a woman passenger ran from officers after crashing at the SW 120th & Hopkins Switch. She was neither identified or charged in the incident.
Capt. Currier reports the Dodge car was reported as stolen from Wichita. He said a firearm was recovered from the vehicle and Mulvane authorities plan charges against Downtain.
Burglar "Drops In" at local Wal-Mart
Published in the Augusta Gazette Friday, April 13, 2007 12:21 PM CDT
A 24 year-old white male from the El Dorado area is expected to be charged today by the Butler County Attorney's office for burglary at the local Wal-Mart store yesterday morning.
Law enforcement officials responded to a call around 8 a.m. on Thursday indicating someone was in the ceiling above the store's pharmacy department. The burglary suspect fell through the ceiling near the shoe department and was taken into custody.
There is speculation that the suspect is the same man captured on video surveillance falling through a ceiling at a Dillon's store located at 13th and Waco in Wichita.
--From Monday, April 16, 2007 Gazette:
Wal-Mart suspect facing burglary, drug charges
Shawn Edward Stuart, 24, rural El Dorado, faced several charges Friday when he made his first court appearance connected to last Thursday's burglary at the Augusta Wal-Mart store.
The Butler County Attorney's office charged Stuart with non-residential burglary, criminal damage to property, obstruction of legal process, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Stuart's court date is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 30, at the Butler County Judicial Center in El Dorado.
Two arrested in skid steer case
Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 5:07 PM CDT
MICHAEL McDERMOTT
Gazette News Editor
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of a skid steer last fall from the City of Augusta.
Picked up by law enforcement officers last week were 32-year-old Brian Maddux and 20-year-old Joseph Wiley. Both are charged with a non-residential burglary and felony theft of the City skid steer valued at $22,500 around Oct. 6 of 2006.
Maddux and Wiley were being held in the Butler County Jail at El Dorado yesterday. They have an April 9 hearing scheduled in the courtroom of District Judge Mike Ward.
The skid steer was taken from the city shop on south Grove Street and later recovered. After the theft, the City of Augusta purchased replacement skid steer with insurance monies. Last month, the Council acted to re-purchase the missing piece of equipment at a cost of less than $20,000 and relegated that steer to the park department.
Canine cop answers 83 call-outs
Courtesy Augusta Daily Gazette, Published: Thursday, February 1, 2007 11:52 AM CST
“Basco”, the canine officer, ended another successful year with the Augusta Department of Public Safety.
During 2006, the K-9 team of Basco and Officer Chad McCluskey was utilized a total of 83 times, with 34 of those utilization's requiring off-duty callouts. Over the year, the team spent over 68 hours on the utilization's.
Narcotic uses accounted for 69 percent of the uses and resulted in more than 1,766 grams of marijuana seized; more than seven grams of Methamphetamines seized; and $16,010 in seized in cash.
In addition, “Basco” was directly responsible for 16 arrests due to narcotics sniffs. Patrol uses were the second most prominent call, with just over 24 percent of the uses. The patrol uses include everything from assisting officers on building alarms, to serving warrants, to helping clear buildings when open doors are found.
“Basco's” efforts in the patrol work area resulted in two suspects being apprehended by officers that most likely would not have been apprehended without a canine. Finally, 7 percent of the utilization's were on tracking uses. One of the tracking callouts involved a suspect in a high-speed chase initiated by the Kansas Highway Patrol that occurred in February.
The suspect crashed his car and ran into a wooden area. “Basco” assisted with searching the area and located the suspect hiding under a tree.
“Basco certainly has been a huge help to our agency and we are thankful to have him on board,” says Safety Chief Tyler Brewer.
Safety Dept. calls in 2006 were up from ‘05
Courtesy Augusta Daily Gazette, Published: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 11:31 AM CST
During 2006, the Augusta Department of Public Safety responded to 20,439 calls. That was up from the 18,997 logged one year earlier.
Arrests were up to 798 from 584. The number of persons charged rose from 722 in 2005 to 1,152 last year.
By classification, those arrests broke down to 73 for felony offenses, 725 for misdemeanor charges, 319 on warrants, and 44 for Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
Safety officers responded to 82 domestic violence calls - up 18 from the previous year.
Traffic citations increased from 2,483 to 2,585 over the past two years.
Firefighters from the safety department responded to 124 alarms in the city and 196 in the county fire district it serves outside the city. Fire damage for the year inside the city amounted to $79,200 and $153,550 in Butler County Fire District 2.
Yearend safety department statistics also show the following 2005-2006 total comparisons:
€ Criminal cases - 1,427 in 2005, 1,547 in 2006.
€ Traffic accident cases - 163 in 2005, 221 in 2006.
€ Fire cases - 348 in 2005, 382 in 2006.
€ Miscellaneous cases - 535 in 2005, 615 in 2006.
Derby man finds he can't outrun the law
Published by the Augusta Gazette: Thursday, December 21, 2006 10:43 AM CST
A speeding driver on West Seventh late yesterday afternoon wedged his car between an SUV and the curb in the 500 block of West Seventh.
A traffic stop in Leon, east of Augusta, precipitated a high-speed chase of a Derby man in a 1996 Honda Accord late yesterday afternoon.
Charges were expected today against the driver.
That chase came westbound on U.S. 54-400 and brought the driver and pursuing lawmen into Augusta on Seventh Street.
The man reportedly gave false information to the Leon officer who took hold of the car as it sped away. The officer was thrown clear of the vehicle when it went into a ditch near the Haverhill interchange east of here.
The fleeing vehicle reached speeds of 90 miles per hour, according to pursuing lawmen.
The Accord struck a vehicle at Seventh & Walnut and then wedged itself in traffic in the 500 block of West Seventh. The driver got out of the car and ran from the scene.
After a foot chase in vicinity of Seventh & Lulu, he was brought down by Augusta Detective Mike Stueven and Officer Chad McCluskey near a former steak house.
The driver was taken by ambulance to the hospital in El Dorado for treatment of his injuries and then transported to the Butler County Jail.
Officer McCluskey suffered some minor abrasions.
Lawmen from Leon, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Augusta Department of Public Safety and the Kansas Highway Patrol were involved the happenings.
10th anniversary for Good Time
Story Courtesy Augusta Daily Gazette
Published: Wednesday, November 1, 2006 1:55 PM CST
Gobblin Good Time event was held at Augusta High School Monday night. Parents and children attended Monday night's 10th anniversary Gobblin Good Time event at Augusta High School. They donated canned goods to the Community Caring Center as they entered.
While watching cartoons and learning safety tips for Halloween trick or treating, prizes were drawn for the boys and girls.
At the end of the evening, the costumed kids received goody bags from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), McGruff and friends. Also sponsoring the program were the high school Student Council, Augusta Crimestoppers Inc., and the Augusta Safety Department.
Burglar bats out window, officers stop suspect nearby
Published: Friday, September 22, 2006 8:57 AM CDT
Early Wednesday morning, someone broke the window of the Stix Pool & Darts business, 409 State, entered it and stole some merchandise.
At 3:59 a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to a burglar alarm at that downtown location.
Sergeant Chad McCluskey was at Sixth & Walnut and responded to the scene in less than a minute.
Investigators located a baseball bat in front of the business, that was later found to be the weapon used to gain entry.
While responding, Officer Derek Highbarger made contact with a vehicle that was leaving the scene and is possibly involved. In addition, Officer Tim Weber located a white male walking one block east of State Street on Fourth Street.
The suspect was out of breath, sweating, and had an injury to his forehead. He was detained and later arrested.
That suspect confessed he broke the window, entered the business and stole a dart set, and ran out the back door.
The suspect was in custody less than 10 minutes after the initial call.
Damage to the window is estimated at $1,000 and the item that was stolen is estimated at $50 value.
"Basco,” the Augusta Safety Department canine officer, assisted by standing by while the suspect was searched and arrested.
Chase nets auto theft suspects - Story Courtesy Augusta Daily Gazette (Monday, July 24, 2006)
Published: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:50 AM CDT
A woman and a man were in custody today at the Butler County Jail following some high-speed chasing by Augusta and area law enforcement officers Monday morning.
The suspects have been identified as Jennifer L. Plumberg and Jerrod St. John. Plumberg has been charged with felony evading and eluding police among other traffic charges. She was in a vehicle stolen out of Wichita. St. John has been charged with auto-theft and faces other possible charges as the case is still under investigation,” said Sergeant Kelly Jones of the Andover Police Department.
A chain-reaction of events apparently began about 9 a.m. Monday morning at the JumpStart convenience store, 115 E. Seventh.
Before the chase ended southwest of Augusta, the episode involved road spikes, a canine officer, two helicopters, and numerous officers and vehicles.
The woman driver of a maroon Ford Explorer abandoned the vehicle near SW 150th and Millcrest Acres Road and attempted to flee on foot. She was picked up around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon.
At the local convenience store, she reportedly attempted to use a credit card purchase for gasoline that did not go through the store's computer system. The credit card fuel purchase eventually did go through but the women that had made the purchase left the convenience store pumps area. In between the first credit card scan and the second, a call was made to the Augusta Department of Public Safety by a JumpStart cashier about a possible gas runoff.
“The use of a stolen credit card is still under investigation,” said Tyler Brewer, Chief of the Augusta Safety Department.
The safety department had been on the look-out for suspects involved with stealing two vehicles having similar vehicle descriptions from Wichita. Plumberg was reportedly accompanied by St. John driving a stolen yellow Jeep.
Following the report to police, an Augusta Safety Officer was able to find the driver of the Jeep headed west on U.S. Highway 54-400 and detained him. St. John had cooperated with police by pulling over and giving himself up.
The search for Plumberg in the Ford Explorer continued. Plumberg had dumped the vehicle she was driving at 150th and Millcrest Acres Road just southwest of Augusta. She had parked the car in a driveway and escaped by foot. This is also the location where law enforcement officers from different agencies set up an investigation site.
Basco, a K-9 officer for the Augusta Department of Public Safety was also brought in but had no luck in finding the female suspect. “We think there are other crimes involved with this incident,” said Chief Tyler Brewer of the Augusta Safety Department but was unable to go into too much detail because the case is still under investigation.
Plumberg, dressed in tan pants and tan tank top, was spotted walking on a dirt road at SW 146 and Tawakoni Road. She detained by an Augusta safety officer.
The capture of these suspects was a coordinated effort involving Andover, Augusta, Rose Hill, the Butler County Sheriffs' Office and the Kansas State Highway Patrol,” said Chief Brewer.
The Augusta Department of Public Safety was responsible for playing the lead role of the investigation. “As usual, their arrests are a result of great cooperation between all departments involved,” said Chief Brewer.
Communications Officer Lance Hilton is promoted to Communications Supervisor (Tuesday, April 6, 2006)
Telecommunications officer Lance Hilton was promoted to the position of telecommunications supervisor on Tuesday, April 6, 2006. Hilton has been employed by the Augusta Department of Public Safety since 1998. Hilton has been a valuable resource to the communications division and also serves as a volunteer firefighter in his off-duty time.
Officer Basco finds boy, hits on drugs, tracks suspect (Thursday, March 23, 2006)
By Michael McDermott Editor - Augusta Daily Gazette
Basco, the canine officer of the Augusta Safety Department with special abilities above those of a normal officer, had a good month of February.
Early in the month, Basco was called to assist Arkansas City police with locating a lost 13-year-old child with medical problems.
The weather was extremely cold and the boy had been missing for several hours. Basco tracked the boy from his abandoned bicycle across several sets of railroad tracks and then lost the track near a ravine with heavy tree cover. The child was found a short time later “within yards” of where Basco lost the scent.
The canine assisted his handler Sgt. Chad McCluskey at the scene of a traffic stop and arrest of a individual for driving with a suspended license.
Basco's nose led Sgt. McCluskey to discovery of 24 grams of a substance believed to be “black tar heroin,” with an estimated street value of $48,000. The officer team also found approximately 18 grams of marijuana, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia.
Kansas State Troopers were assisted by Officer Basco with a manhunt in the area of Santa Fe Lake, west of Augusta. A stolen vehicle was crashed near SW 70th and Santa Fe Lake Road and the driver took off on foot.
After about an hour, Basco located the suspect hiding beneath an evergreen tree in the middle of a field. The suspect was taken into custody.
Volunteers are no problem in Augusta (Monday, March 13, 2006)
By BELINDA LARSEN Assistant News Editor - Augusta Daily Gazette
In a reaction to a recent media story concerning shrinking ranks of volunteer firefighters, Augusta Safety Department Chief Tyler Brewer wants the community to know that the local safety department has no problem with volunteerism.
“There may be trouble elsewhere, but not here. Our volunteer program causes our community to be unique...look where our volunteers come from -- our churches and excellent school system. And we have Major Ray Marbut -- a tremendous leader.” Brewer stated.
The fire division of the Augusta Safety Department is supplemented by approximately 30 volunteer firefighters who receive no monetary compensation for their services. In addition, there is a small compliment of Junior Firefighters of "explorers."
Augusta's agency is very unique in that we are one of only a handful of true "safety departments" left in the area, adds Brewer.
The concept incorporates a philosophy utilizing "Safety Officers" who are Kansas State certified law enforcement officers (police officers) and are also cross-trained as firefighters. Augusta's officers spend a tour of duty on the streets as a patrol officer and then, as a part of a normal rotation, rotate through a tour of duty in the fire division.
Augusta's crews were quick to respond to the recent prairie fire near El Dorado that burned almost 11,000 acres. In addition to fighting the fire, local officers were also stationed at the El Dorado Fire Department providing assistance.
Paper carrier alerts family to fire (Story courtesy KSNW Television - Wichita 02-20-06)
AUGUSTA, Kansas, Feb 20, 2006 -- She delivers the news every morning but now a newspaper carrier is making news by saving lives. It happened early Sunday when fire broke out in a home east of Augusta.
The charred family pickup truck and burned-out remains are all that proves a garage once stood next to the family home. The rest of the home proves something more: That four family members came too close to tragedy.
"It could have been a lot worse," said Christine Eaglebear.
Eaglebear saw it all going down. At 6:30 a.m. she was wrapping up her paper route when she spotted flames.
"I had the adrenaline pumping. I was nervous. I was scared to go up to the house because of the fire but I knew if I didn’t it could have been a lot worse."
Fighting the smoke, Eaglebear went to the front door and franticly awoke the family. Sure enough, they had no idea their garage was on fire.
"She was kind of groggy because they had just woke up and she was like, ’Oh, my garage is on fire?’ Yeah, we got to go now."
That was an understatement as the fire spread quickly.
"The fire spread from the detached garage, which was in close proximity to the house, and went up into the attic of the house," said Major Ray Marbut, Butler County Fire Department.
Investigators are still looking for the cause of the fire. The family says it may be related to a recalled item on their pickup truck, a switch that shuts the cruise control off when the driver hits the brake. Ford recently recalled the switch on 1994 to 2002 models of the F-150 pickup, Expedition, Bronco and Lincoln Navigator. The government logged 660 complaints of fires that ignite even when the vehicles are off.
It’s only one theory in this latest fire, though Butler County crews have seen two such fires in the last few months.
"We were lucky that the two vehicles I worked were not in a garage," said Marbut.
Eaglebear said she feels terrible for what this family has to go through but knows they could have lost much more than property.
"It feels so good to know that you’ve done something to help somebody and could have possibly saved their lives. I’m not going to lie, it feels awesome."
Investigators say the pickup had its cruise-control switch repaired last week. They will interview mechanics to make sure it was completed. In the meantime, officials will consider other causes for this fire.
Last update: Feb 20, 2006, 7:50am
See more stories by Jason Kravarik
ADPS K-9 nabs suspect in vehicle chase (Story courtesy KSNW Television - Wichita 02-18-06)
AUGUSTA, Kansas, Feb 18, 2006 -- A manhunt Friday morning ended after a nearly two hour search with the help of a four-legged officer.
The chase started when a trooper tried to pull over the driver for speeding in a stolen car. Authorities eventually put out "stop sticks", puncturing a tire. The suspect eventually crashed near Andover.
After a chase with speeds up to 140 miles per hour, the car finally came to a crashing stop but the hunt didn’t end there. Search dogs then picked up the scent of the suspect in the wreckage. While the K-9’s were trying to find the suspect, crews searched from the air, on foot and on four-wheeler’s. Ultimately it was the nose of Basco that nabbed the man.
"The dog actually, what we call, winded him. In other words, with the wind out of the north, we were trying to work from the south to the north so he would pick up his scent and pull to it, which he did. Once the dog pulled up close to him we could see him laying up there," said Officer Chad McCluskey, K-9 unit, Augusta Police Department.
The K-9 officers pulled the man out from under the cedar tree and took him into custody but they give credit to their four-legged partner.
"I probably got called out two hours ago, maybe. Without a dog to work this area we wouldn’t have found him. The dogs are just invaluable to be able to find people running, drugs, all kinds of stuff. They’re just a tool you can’t live without," said McCluskey.
With temperatures below freezing, officers and deputies were glad for the quick end because the cold was wearing them down fast.
The suspect is Jeremy Lindsey, 19, from Topeka. His record shows he has a suspended license in Kansas and Mississippi. He is now also facing charges for the auto theft and evading and eluding.
Last update: Feb 21, 2006, 8:02am
See more stories by Chanda Brown
From 4 wheels to 4 legs: Police dog finds suspect after Turnpike chase (Story courtesy Wichita Eagle 02-18-06)
Posted on Sat, Feb. 18, 2006
From 4 wheels to 4 legs: Police dog finds suspect after Turnpike chase
BY STAN FINGER - The Wichita Eagle
A high-speed chase on the Kansas Turnpike at speeds up to 135 mph led to a manhunt in rural Butler County on Friday morning and a door-to-door search before the suspect was found in a clump of cedar trees.
"Any time you have a fugitive that's running from you, there's always a certain amount of danger because who knows what you're up against?" Butler County Undersheriff Roy Raney said.
The incident began at about 10:15 a.m. when a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull over a car on the Kansas Turnpike just north of the north El Dorado exit, Raney said. The driver refused to stop, and a chase ensued.
When the trooper checked the car's license plate with dispatchers, Raney said, he was told the gray 2005 Infinity had been reported stolen in Topeka.
The driver of the Infinity turned off the turnpike at the Andover exit and headed east on Southwest 70th Street. When he reached Santa Fe Lake Road, Raney said, the driver attempted to turn the corner but lost control and careened through a ditch and into a field.
The driver then bailed out of the car and a foot chase ensued, but the pursuing trooper lost sight of the suspect.
Authorities cordoned off a mile section of property and issued a "Reverse 911" call alerting residents to watch for strangers coming onto their property or to their door, Raney said.
Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy went up in a helicopter while officers from Andover and Augusta assisted deputies, state troopers and K-9 units in the search.
An Augusta police search dog spotted the suspect in a thick clump of cedar trees about a quarter-mile west and 300 yards north of Southwest 70th Street, Raney said. The suspect surrendered without incident just before noon.
"I don't even know if he tried to get in somebody's house," Raney said of the suspect. "He may have just picked out a place where he thought he could hide. He probably intended to lay there until night, and then leave -- if he didn't freeze first."
Wind chills during the manhunt were in the single digits, and authorities said the suspect was not wearing a coat.
He was turned over to the Kansas Highway Patrol and faces a variety of criminal charges. Authorities were not releasing his name late Friday afternoon.
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Reach Stan Finger at (316) 268-6437 or sfinger@wichitaeagle.com.
Police cars will trend to black & white in 2006 (from Augusta Gazette 10-26-05)
At least in one way, the first police patrol cars purchased by the City of Augusta in 2006 might look a little older than the present fleet.
The cars will be newer, but the paint scheme will harken back to the last century when black & white patrol units were the rage for departments across the country.
Today, departments across the country are returning to that scheme which is very identifiable for the public.
The Augusta City Council had no objection to the proposal from Safety Chief Tyler Brewer this week.
A smiling Councilman Doug Marr wondered aloud if some day the “gum drop” red light on the roof of early patrol vehicles would also return to vogue.
In his memo to the city manager, Chief Brewer said the paint scheme would be included in bid specifications going out this fall.
It was also noted that the new Dodge Charger will be bid as an option to the Ford Crown Victoria model.
Brewer said it could take a few years for transition from the white patrol cars to the traditional black and whites.
Officers log 58 Checklane actions (from Augusta Gazette 08-19-05)
Officers from the Augusta Department of Public Safety, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Butler County Sheriff's Office conducted a sobriety checklane on West Seventh last Saturday night.
The Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Checklane is part of a comprehensive traffic education and enforcement grant project funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).
The Saturday night/Sunday morning checklane produced 58 pieces of activity from seat belt warnings to a DUI arrests.
"As many of you are aware Augusta experienced a fatal accident on Tuesday afternoon," said Augusta Safety Chief Tyler Brewer.
While the exact reasons for the accident are still under investigation, some contributing factors to the accident were inattention coupled with the change of speed limit at the east side of town, he said.
"If there is any question to as why your Augusta Department of Public Safety is aggressive in enforcing traffic regulations let this accident be one lesson of explanation," adds Chief Brewer.
"Your employees of Augusta Department of Public Safety would rather stop 100 vehicles and remind them of their obligations to drive safely than to ever have to knock on another door and tell a 'loved-one' about the tragedy that is about to envelope their life.
"We thank you for your support in allowing us to keep our community a safe place to live and work," said Brewer.
Safety Officer Chris Scheuber Promoted to Sergeant (08-01-2005)
Congratulations to Safety Officer Chris Scheuber. On August 1, 2005, Officer Scheuber was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Scheuber was formerly the Augusta Middle School Resource Officer and will now lead one of the four patrol crews. Sgt. Scheuber has been with the Augusta Department of Public Safety since February of 1998. Prior to becoming a part of the ADPS family, Scheuber served as a reserve firefighter for the El Dorado Fire Department.
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