Leavenworth drug bust pix

Some interesting pictures that came along with Star reporter Bob Cronkleton's story about the big raid in Leavenworth last week:

• Leavenworth police seized several bullet-proof vests, handguns, shotguns and rifles along with two hand grenades and ammunition when they raided a suspected drug house, police said.
• Police also found three pounds of marijuana and 500 grams of crack cocaine when they searched the house in the 200 block of Topeka Street in Leavenworth.

Left: Weapons Middle: Crack and some kind of grinder Right: Pot

Police: Drunken trucker kills 4

From the Associated Press 3:23 p.m.:

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — The driver of a tractor-trailer was charged Monday with drunken driving after slamming into a hayride and killing a toddler and three adults.

Full story

This isn't a local accident, but it seemed appropriate to the DUI discussion.

Missing 2 days: Tyrone Stricker

From Kansas City police 2:31 p.m.:

• The KCMO Police Department's Missing Persons Unit is asking the public's help in locating a missing KC North man who has not been seen since Saturday, October 29, 2005 at about 3:25 pm when he walked away from his home. The missing man - Tyrone R. Stricker, Indian male, date of birth 06/12/1980 is described as being 5'3" in height and weighs about 120 lbs. He was last seen wearing a yellow hooded pullover sweater over a blue Royals Baseball tee shirt, blue jeans and high top tennis shoes. He is missing an upper front tooth and has a noticeable burn mark on his right forearm. He is mentally disabled.

Lest we forget: KC homicide count

This is already one behind:

KC homicide #107: Stabbed

From Kansas City police 12:03 p.m.:

• The KCMO Police Homicide Unit has positively identified the victim of the Homicide that occurred on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 8141 Campbell, as Eric E. Brown, black male, date of birth 08/23/1966 of Kansas City, Missouri.
• The second person injured during this same incident is still hospitalized from her injuries and detectives have not been able to interview her. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
• This is the 107th homicide of 2005 compared to 77 at this same time last year.
• No suspects are in custody.

Sunday story

Plaza DUI: They just won't let you be

By Greg Reeves
Not everyone is behind sobriety checkpoints. The Supreme Court has said they're OK, but to critics, 17,000-plus drunk-driving deaths a year is a small price to pay for the right not to be stopped in a DUI checkpoint.
Accordingly, some KC area blogs and messageboards worked overtime trying to out the location of this weekend's DUI checkpoint on the Plaza:

"Beware the evil KCPD checkpoints of drunken drivingness this weekend!", one wrote. These addresses went 'round the Net:

• 85th and Ward Parkway
• Mill Street and Southwest Trafficway (by Sunfresh)
• JC Nichols by PF Changs
• Broadway bridge by the downtown airport
• Briarcliff Parkway

Please. I think the Grateful Dead said it best:

Sittin’ and starin’ out of the hotel window.
Got a tip they’re gonna kick the door in again
I’d like to get some sleep before I travel,
But if you got a warrant, I guess you’re gonna come in.

Busted, down on Bourbon Street, set up, like a bowlin’ pin.
Knocked down, it gets to wearin’ thin. they just won’t let you be, oh no.

Plaza DUI saga: Roll call

By Greg Reeves

Sobriety checkpoints are carefully choreographed police operations. Almost every move is dictated by lawyers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

That becomes clear at the 9 p.m. Saturday pre-checkpoint roll call of a dozen Kansas City police officers and a dozen Missouri Highway Patrol troopers at KC police traffic headquarters, 1328 Agnes.

Each officer gets an 11-page "Sobriety Checkpoint Written Plan" with a map. Where to go, what to do, how to do it. Steps 1-13. These are not optional.

Supervising Sgt. Roger Hill: "We want to use a standard greeting to all drivers." Here it is:

• "Hi, my name is Officer (YourWorstNightmare). We're conducting a sobriety checkpoint. May I see your driver's license? Have you had anything to drink tonight?"

If you're sober but don't have your driver's license with you, it's your lucky night - you won't be ticketed. If for some reason you say you're suspended, however, you'll need a ride home.

More later on the Plaza DUI checkpoint. Results.

Readers speak out on DUI

Recommended reading: the long discussion thread following this post Friday:

DUI checkpoint this weekend: Why me?

Lots of smart and ejjekated folks read this blog. Now give me those car keys and finish your drink.

DUI checkpoint results: Oh yes

From Kansas City police Sunday 3:39 p.m.:

• On October 29, 2005, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted a Sobriety Checkpoint at  47th and J.C. Nichols.  Southbound traffic was checked and a total number of 1086 vehicles were stopped and 30 DUI arrests were made (12 KCPD, 18 MSHP).

Oh yes they did. There was laughter, tears, one fight and two men dressed as women. One said he was gay and took the arrest like a man; the other said he was straight and cried like a baby.
Little Bo Peep went down; so did Tinkerbell.
Details today.

Overland Park sex/drugs/alc (new)

DUIs, dope, a sexual battery - and a rape.

Download: Overland Park sex, drugs and alcohol 10-24 thru 10-30-05

Overland Park weekend offenses

The Overland Park offenses report today includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's two pages and includes three violent crimes (aggravated battery aka serious assaults) and two auto thefts:

Download: Overland Park reported offenses, October 28-30, 2005 (PDF)

All The Star's crime stories today/weekend

This blog is meant to be your one-stop resource for crime-related stories from The Star. Here are links to crime-related stories today and over the weekend:

Today:
Carjacking ends in crash
Law for delinquent taxes sought
METROPOLITAN DIGEST

Saturday:
Police: Woman killed ex-beau
Drug raid yields crack, weapons
P.S.: It will be no treat for drunken drivers
Skateboarder killed in collision with SUV
New trial ordered in 1997 killing
Potty peeper escapes jail sentence
Victim describes 1990 Lenexa rape
Metropolitan Digest

Sunday:
Man stabbed in KC’s 107th killing of year
Crash into wall kills driver