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

DUI checkpoint this weekend: Why me?

By Greg Reeves
Nothing like hanging out with a bunch of traffic cops to wreck my weekend drinking.
I'm due at police rollcall 9 p.m. Saturday at 13th & Agnes before heading out with the DUI checkpoint team to south Kansas City.
I'll be with Sgt. Kim I. Hannan, DUI unit supervisor. I was going to post a picture of her in her days with the department's mounted patrol - it's the only picture I have of her - but bug-ridden and glacial TypePad, true to form, won't load it.
Results Sunday or Monday.

KC homicide #106: Russian student

From Kansas City police 2:21 p.m.:

• The man who was killed this morning at 127 West 10th has been identified as Alexander Gladkov, w/m, 06/28/1982, of Kansas City, MO.  Mr. Gladkov was in the United States from Russia on a student visa.  The 25 year old female suspect is in police custody and the case file has been submitted to prosecutors for consideration of charges.

Overland Park sex/drugs/alcohol report

It's the weekly Overland Park sex, drugs and alcohol report:

• Lots of drunk drivers
• Random OP stoners
• The occasional sex offender

This report lands in my email every Monday morning. I'm late this week, but will be on time Monday a.m. and in the future, OPPD willing.

Download: OP sex, drugs and alcohol report (PDF)

Campaign finance: Limits schmimits

By Greg Reeves

Ah, bundling. That's when you have so much money to give a political candidate you have to parse it out among family, friends, the willing homeless, etc., so they can donate it.
That's because of pesky campaign-finance laws limit individual donations.
A bundling-related world of hurt has descended upon Ohio GOP operative Tom Noe today:

• TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A major GOP donor was charged with giving thousands of dollars to other people to contribute to President Bush’s re-election campaign in an attempt to skirt a $2,000 limit on individual contributions.
• Tom Noe, a coin dealer already embroiled in an Ohio state government scandal, was charged in a federal indictment Thursday with illegally funneling $45,400 to the president’s re-election bid through two dozen friends and associates.
• “It’s one of the most blatant and excessive finance schemes we have encountered,” said Noel Hillman, section chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s public integrity section.

Full AP story

The Star has poked into bundling in the past. Phenomenal reporter Joe Stephens wrote stories (1,2,3) that got a GOP presidential campaign vice-president fined $6 million in 1996 - the biggest FEC fine ever levied at the time. Joe is now in The Star diaspora, at the WashPost.

Chiefs to wait/see on patdowns

By Greg Reeves
A high school civics teacher backed by the ACLU won a temporary injunction Thursday against patdowns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Raymond James stadium.
The NFL mandated patdowns of arriving fans league-wide this year as an anti-terrorism security measure.
Plaintiff and season ticket holder Gordon Johnston (above) argued the all-inclusive patdowns were unconstitutional, and the judge, saying he was bound by legal precedent, agreed. Wire story today (Word file)
Kansas City Chiefs PR man Bob Moore told me this morning the Chiefs will continue to follow the league policy - any word on change will have to come from the league. NFL PR guy Greg Aiello was at a funeral, I couldn't reach him.
Inaugural patdown at Arrowhead (at the Jets game) went veryx3 smooothly, Moore told me at the time.

My post: NFL fan's goal: Patdown-free season
My other post: Welcome to Arrowhead. Spread 'em!
St. Pete Times story yesterday: His civic duty
Florida cops never liked the policy anyway: Law agencies won't heed plan

KC homicide #106: Library Lofts

From Kansas City police 10:10 a.m.:

• On today's date (Friday) October 28, 2005 at about 8:00am, KC Police Officers were dispatched to 127 West 10th street on a shooting. Officers arrived within minutes of the call and found a female crouched down near a male who was apparently suffering from a serious chest wound (later found to be a gunshot wound). Witnesses at the scene advised that the woman chased the man out of the Library Lofts West building while firing a handgun at him. The man fell to the sidewalk and the woman continued shooting him.
• The man was transported to an area hospital by MAST Ambulance where he died from his injuries. The woman (who was uninjured) was taken into custody. Two handguns were recovered at the scene. Identities of the victim and the suspect have not been released.

All The Star's crime stories today

This blog is meant to be your one-stop resource for crime-related stories from The Star. Today's links:

Police chief told to explain video edit VIDEO
Outlaw captured on old photos?
Not guilty is plea in Kemp slaying VIDEO
Daughter of KCPT president found dead in Georgia
Parking dispute led to killing
Teenager charged after car chase ends in crash
Home improvement items found in two more houses
Release expected soon in Kansas teen same-sex case
Packing mistake becomes trial focus
Breeden seeks to have his record cleared
Freedom of speech key issue for judge
Forfeiture system called broken VIDEO
METROPOLITAN DIGEST

Overland Park offenses for Thursday

20 lines today, including two car thefts:

Download PDF: Overland Park reported offenses for Thursday 10-27-05

That cash in your trunk, Part II

By Greg Reeves

Speaking of the forfeiture issue on Gov. Matt Blunt's plate today, newspapers apparently wrecked Missouri forfeiture a decade ago when they pointed out police were using it as a revenue stream. A speaker at the governor's Crime Roundtable today said as much.

The Star did its part. In two series the feds hated and Harvard's Goldsmith Award folks loved, reporter Karen Dillon laid out the forfeiture issue:

To Protect and Collect (1999)
"Police and federal agencies have diverted millions of dollars from Missouri schoolchildren. Under state law, money seized in drug cases is supposed to go to public school districts, but some police departments have found a simple way to keep the money for their own use."

Taking Cash into Custody (2000)
"Police and highway patrols across the country are evading state laws to improperly keep millions of dollars in cash and property seized in drug busts and traffic stops."

Why is $100,000 in your car trunk?

By Greg Reeves
Forfeiture - the government taking your stuff because they think you're a crook - topped the list in a 37-minute Crime Roundtable discussion headed by Gov. Matt Blunt at KC police headquarters this afternoon.
"I think we really identified some things we need to get into the details of," Blunt told reporters in a seven-minute press conference after the session.
U.S. Attorney Todd Graves led off the topic by saying state-federal forfeiture coordination is "broken". Because of gaps between the two systems, he said, sometimes "the bad guy gets to keep the money."
Background: Until about a decade ago, police agencies in Missouri were keeping revenue from seized assets. When state law eliminated that incentive, forfeiture all but died in the state.
"It's a dicey topic," said GOP State Sen. Chris Koster of Harrisonville, a former prosecutor, but "worth having an honest discussion" on how to fix the state forfeiture law.
Other topics: 1) Recent advances against methampetamine manufacture by making it harder to buy the ingredients 2) An even tougher law ahead in Missouri to lock down sex offenders.
Comments?

KDOC Halloween for sex offenders

By Greg Reeves

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) says it has Halloween plans for released sex offenders still under KDOC supervision:

• No Halloween lights
• No Halloween decorations
• No candy
• No porch light
• No walking around the block
• No answering the door to a kid
• No having a party
• No going to a party

This, KDOC says, is "an enhancement to its ongoing risk-reduction efforts with regard to sex offenders in the community." I think that says released sex offenders pose a risk to communities, and KDOC is trying to keep that down. KDOC document (PDF)

Grandma, don't send that money!

By Greg Reeves
Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (left) has announced a new program, MOSAFE, a state-funded and state-run effort to combat fraud against the elderly.
The program, created by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, will train financial institution staffs how to better recognize and help prevent ID theft and financial exploitation of seniors and the disabled.
“I believe MOSAFE can have a real impact in the lives of our seniors and disabled citizens”, said Kinder. “MOSAFE will help all of us to stop heartless criminals from preying on our most vulnerable citizens.”
Kinder serves as the Official Senior Advocate for the State of Missouri.

Kansas City police have had a notice up on the same topic for some time now.

Jerry Agar at DUI forum tonight

By Greg Reeves
It's a plague upon the nation, killing thousands every year.
No, not conservative talk radio or KMBZ-AM's Jerry Agar (left) - drunk-driving (right)!

In fact, Jerry and fellow KMBZ host Darla Jaye are holding a free Town Hall Forum on repeat DUI offenders tonight:

• 7:00 p.m.  Glenwood Arts Theatre, 95th & Metcalf.

Purpose: to explore "what can be done to pressure lawmakers to keep them off the road for good. With your help we can make a difference."