Latest news with #Olathe
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police officer facing wrongful death lawsuit was given "valor" awards for fatal shooting
A former Kansas police officer whom prosecutors declined to charge in the 2022 shooting death of a man with a known history of mental health crises was twice presented top 'valor' awards by law enforcement groups for his actions during the fatal encounter. The ceremonies stand in sharp contrast to the federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Brandon Lynch, 27, a year ago. One of the commendations, a 'Gold Award for Uncommon Valor' presented by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police on May 1, 2024, was handed out two days before the family filed its suit against the officer, Conner Thompson, and the city of Olathe. In the complaint filed in the District of Kansas, Lynch's family claims Thompson 'unnecessarily escalated the situation' and applied an 'unreasonable use of excessive force' that failed to consider proper crisis intervention training. Details of the awards — the first of which was given to Thompson by the Kansas City Metropolitan Area Chiefs and Sheriffs Association in November 2023 — have not been previously reported. A detailed review of the awards shows that Thompson and his then-partner were honored for what police say occurred on the night Lynch was fatally shot, New Year's Eve in 2022. Specifically, the Metropolitan Area Chiefs and Sheriffs Association said the officers 'responded to a disturbance' at a home where a woman called to say her brother had assaulted her. Once at the home, the officers told the woman to wait outside while they entered and were confronted by the man, who was armed with a knife and Taser, the group's narrative of events said. When the man 'continued to be aggressive' and did not obey orders, Thompson's partner attempted to use his department-issued Taser on him, but it was 'ineffective,' the narrative said. 'The suspect defied Thompson's commands and advanced towards both officers,' the narrative said. 'Recognizing the suspect was in close proximity of the officers, Thompson fired his handgun at the suspect, striking him.' 'During a tense situation, Thompson had the wherewithal to conduct life-saving measures,' the narrative added. The version of events offered by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police was similar. Neither narrative mentioned Lynch by name nor explained that a dispatcher had relayed to officers that Lynch was exhibiting a mental health crisis, as his sister had explained when she called 911. Nor did the narratives note that officers had had prior encounters with him at the home, including one time in which Thompson was in a 'physical altercation' with Lynch, according to the Johnson County prosecutors who investigated the shooting and determined 'the officer properly used deadly force in this incident.' A review of the 'valor' awards given to other officers by the Metropolitan Area Chiefs and Sheriffs Association that year show they were for actions such as saving suicidal people, helping a gunshot victim and assisting an infant who stopped breathing because of a respiratory virus. The law firm for Lynch's family, Cannezzaro Marvel LLC in Kansas City, Missouri, declined to comment about the suit or the officer being awarded for his actions on the night Lynch died. The president of the Metropolitan Area Chiefs and Sheriffs Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dennis Shaw, the executive director of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, said in an email that 'the officer was cleared by the District Attorney,' and the narrative the association shared 'was presented to us for consideration.' While the honor given to Thompson stood out in the awards ceremony, it's not unheard of for officers to receive commendations related to fatal shooting incidents. Narene Stokes, whose son, Ryan, was fatally shot by Kansas City, Missouri, police in 2013, recalled feeling 'baffled, angry and confused' when she learned the officers involved in his death were recognized with awards by a local police board for their actions. The award, however, was later rescinded. 'The officers want to say they feared for their life — and that's why they get an award?' Stokes said. In Lynch's case, police bodycam video was made public when Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced that his office would not be charging the officer. 'Lynch took the actions that caused his death,' he said in May 2023, and 'the officers reacted to the aggressiveness of Lynch throughout that episode.' In their lawsuit, the family says Lynch repeatedly told officers to 'get out,' and informed them he was trying to clean to avoid a new plague. He then shouted, 'I'm not going anywhere near you,' and went back to his bedroom and closed the door. The officers then followed him and opened his bedroom door. Thompson 'immediately pulled out a taser weapon and aimed it at Brandon after opening the door despite Brandon not making any threats,' according to the suit, adding that the officer then 'pulled his firearm and aimed it at Brandon less than fifteen seconds after pulling his taser,' in actions that could be seen in the bodycam video. Officers then told Lynch he was under arrest as he became 'increasingly agitated and asked the officers to leave his house multiple times,' according to the suit. When the officers 'started to back down the hallway,' Lynch followed them to an upstairs living room, where the situation escalated. 'Throughout the interaction, the officers escalated the situation by pointing guns, shouting commands, and threatening Brandon,' the suit said. 'Crisis intervention training teaches that these tactics exacerbate the situation and are counterproductive in addressing a person in mental health crisis.' The officers stood at the threshold of the home's front door, roughly 15 feet from Lynch, while he paced the living room. In the bodycam video, Lynch says, 'What did I do? I didn't do anything. Get out of my house,' as officers repeatedly tell him to put down his weapon and warn him if he takes one step forward, 'I will shoot you.' A Taser is used on Lynch in the living room, but he appears unaffected. Lynch again says 'get out of my house,' taking a couple of steps forward, at which point an officer opens fire, the video shows. The family's lawsuit says that additional officers arrived at that time. 'Thompson was not in danger at any point during the moments leading up to the time that he took Brandon's life,' the family's complaint says, and he 'was not in danger of being harmed by Brandon because [Thompson] was standing at a safe distance outside of the striking zone and the front door was a barrier between' the officers and Lynch. 'Despite other officers being on the scene while these events unfolded,' the suit says, 'none fired their weapon except' for Thompson. An Olathe city spokesman referred questions to the Olathe Police Department, which declined to comment "due to the ongoing civil litigation." Thompson resigned from Olathe last year after five years on the force and was later hired by another police department in Washington state. He did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The city filed a motion to have the family's suit dismissed, saying Thompson's 'use of lethal force was objectively reasonable under the circumstance presented' and he 'is entitled to qualified immunity,' a doctrine that can protect government officials, including police, from civil litigation when acting in their official duties. Last fall, however, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson ruled that 'these allegations, accepted as true, state a plausible claim that Officer Thompson recklessly or deliberately brought about the need to use deadly force.' Now, the judge has ordered both the city and the family to reach a resolution in the case, otherwise it could go to trial later this year, court records show. The family is seeking unspecified damages for pain and suffering as well as costs associated with Lynch's death, including funeral expenses and medical care provided. In a statement after the family's suit was filed in May 2024, its lawyers said 'the use of deadly force in a situation where non-lethal options were viable is not only unacceptable, but also a clear violation of Brandon Lynch's rights.' 'This unfortunate event highlights the urgent need for reform in how law enforcement handles interactions with mentally ill individuals,' the lawyers said. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
I-435 crash leaves Olathe man dead in Johnson County
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Highway Patrol says one man has died from his injuries after a crash early this morning, May 17. KHP says 34-year-old Brady Toole of Olathe died around 5:45 this afternoon after crashing on northbound I-435 around 1:30 a.m. 19 arrested, 36 vehicles towed in street racing, sideshow operation by KCPD The crash report says that Toole was driving a 2005 Ford pickup on Northbound I-435 at milepost 2.2 when he ran off the right side of the roadway. The pickup then went into the ditch and struck a wooden post of a KHP sign before sliding to a stop, hitting the south bridge pillar on the 95th Street bridge. Toole was taken to the mortuary and next of kin were notified by the Missouri Highway Patrol, KHP says. The Ford was towed to a tow lot after the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Memorial celebration held for man falsely accused in Chiefs rally shooting
OLATHE, Kan. — In Johnson County Saturday, many arrived at Fairview Park in red and yellow to celebrate the life of Olathe father, brother and Chiefs fan Denton Loudermill. Loudermill — about fourteen months after he was of being one of the shooters at the Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rally last year. Kansas City businesses donate to Graham Hoffman Scholarship Fund Since then, he has fought to clear his name, and according to loved ones, that's the least he deserved. 'That's what we want to put the focus on, not so much the individuals that did this, but the effect that they had on an everyday person's life,' said attorney Laronna Lassiter Saunders. 'And if this happened to Mr. Loudermill, then this could happen to you, it could happen to any of us.' According to previous coverage, Loudermill was one of the thousands of fans at the Chiefs rally in February 2024 to celebrate the team's Super Bowl LVIII win. However, as he and several others were standing near Union Station, chaos ensued, and armed suspects fired shots near the crowd. One person was killed, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, and 20 others were injured, and amid the panic, Loudermill was briefly handcuffed. He was quickly released and never charged, but that was before images of him being arrested circulated on social media. Soon after, people began sharing the images, even some state lawmakers, like Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, and falsely accusing him of being the shooter, as well as an illegal immigrant. Construction set to begin on first Buc-ee's store in Kansas Loudermill sued to clear his name, but he still received negative attention. His sister, Reba Paul, said she watched her relaxed, outgoing brother change in the last year of his life. 'Yes, he was stressed,' said Paul. 'He was worried all the time, and so I do believe that this affected him, because I saw it.' His attorney said that his family, through his estate, will continue working to hold those elected representatives accountable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
KDOT warns Edwardsville: Truck ban may cost federal funding
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . The state agency sent a letter to Edwardsville explaining that its truck ban on 110th Street violates federal law and that if it's not revoked, the city could lose all its federal highway funding. Edwardsville risks losing all of its federal highway funding because of a ban on truck traffic along 110th Street just south of Interstate 70, the Kansas Department of Transportation warns. The ban affects a stretch of 110th between Riverview and Kansas avenues, where developer Scannell Properties spent millions preparing and planning to build more than 2.1 million square feet of light industrial in its $100 million Compass 70 Logistics project. The under-construction park sits in Bonner Springs along the border with Edwardsville. Edwardsville instituted the ban on Sept. 23; Mayor Carolyn Caiharr, elected in 2022, lives about 1,000 feet from 110th and Riverview. Scannell sued Edwardsville in January in Kansas federal court, claiming fraud and misrepresentation and seeking damages, attorney fees and court costs. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events The lawsuit prompted Edwardsville to put a moratorium on the truck ban until Jan. 1, 2027, but that doesn't resolve the dispute. The ban violates federal law, which precludes denying access 'one road-mile from the national network using the most reasonable and practicable route,' absent specific safety reasons, KDOT warned in a March 12 letter to the city. The agency advised the city to revoke the ordinance before the moratorium expires. KDOT would be the enforcement agency for the federal government. 'Such a violation ... could jeopardize future federal aid highway funding to the City of Edwardsville,' KDOT wrote in the letter. 'Thus, KDOT advises that the City of Edwardsville come to a more permanent solution regarding truck traffic on 110th Street.' Caiharr did not respond to a request for comment. In 2015, Olathe enacted a truck ban on two blocks of Renner Boulevard between 119th Street and Olathe's northern city limit. That move also sparked a letter from KDOT explaining the violation of federal law. KDOT gave Olathe two months to rescind its ordinance or risk losing federal highway funding. Olathe ignored the threat for several months after the deadline passed, and KDOT sat on the sidelines without acting. However, Olathe eventually temporarily lifted the ban after being in violation of federal law for five months, then later permanently revoked it.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Missing father Jordan Yust reportedly seen as early as Friday: deputies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It has officially been nine days since Olathe man Jordan Yust disappeared from his home, and now law enforcement is asking the public for help in the search. On Wednesday morning, the Miami County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office regarding the latest findings on the 37-year-old father and husband. 2 people dead after a house fire in Higginsville According to the post, recent tips make deputies believe that Jordan may have been in the area of West 247th Street and Ridgeview Road — about nine miles south of Spring Hill, Kansas, and four miles east of Hillsdale, Kansas — as recently as Sunday or Monday. However, law enforcement has not released explicit evidence to corroborate these sources' claims. After receiving the tips, though, deputies deployed 10 specialized canines for a 12-hour search. When the search concluded, the sheriff's office said Yust was most likely in the area of 169 Highway, north of 255th Street, on Friday based on new evidence. Deputies are still looking for Yust and asking the public to release any dash camera footage, home or business surveillance, deer blinds, or trail cameras to help with any clues regarding his disappearance. On Monday last week, it was reported that running on , in Miami County. Man facing 10 additional charges connected to string of burglaries in Kansas City According to , 'It would be Jordan on foot, is what we're looking for. We know his car was left running on the side of the highway. It was northbound on 69, around 247th Street. So, we would be just trying to find any indication of where he might be going, timestamps of where he has been. Then that will help us narrow down the search.' The the most recent updates in the case were made possible after local search and rescue teams, like the Kansas Search and Rescue Team, Missouri Search and Rescue Team, Kansas Highway Patrol Aviation Unit, and Taking it to the Streets, volunteered their time and assisted deputies in their search. Law enforcement claims that Yust may look different compared to his missing person photos. Specifically, he could have a slightly longer beard and head of hair. If you or anyone you know has information about Yust's disappearance, deputies ask that you call the Miami County Sheriff's Office Dispatch line at (913) 294-3232. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
