Daily News - June 9, 2023

In our ongoing commitment to transparency and accessibility, we provide a summary of calls for service and reports filed by our agency. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to protect community members from being victimized further and to ...

Daily News - June 8, 2023

In our ongoing commitment to transparency and accessibility, we provide a summary of calls for service and reports filed by our agency. Some names, addresses, and case details are withheld to protect community members from being victimized further and to ...

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Inmate Charged with Online Child Sex Crimes

A Riley County Jail inmate has been arrested on child sex crime charges stemming from his involvement with a minor online while incarcerated.

Alvin Mason, 39, of Abilene was arrested on June 8, 2023, around 2:15 p.m. after officers found he abused his inmate privileges with a tablet by engaging in inappropriate acts with a 15-year-old girl online. Officers identified the crime while monitoring ...

Arrest Made in Two Previous Attempted Murders

Jarman Morgan, 45, of Manhattan was arrested Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in connection to two previously unreported stabbings occurring in the summer months of 2020 and spring months of 2021 in Manhattan.

Morgan is reported to have stabbed the same 35-year-old man in the head and face area on these occasions. This man and Morgan are known to each other. The victim did not receive medical care for either of the stabbings and is still alive today.

Morgan was ...

Situation Peacefully Resolved After Shelter in Place

Riley County Police Department Officers peacefully resolved a situation involving an individual experiencing a mental health crisis Monday.

Riley County Police Department Officers peacefully resolved a situation involving an individual experiencing a mental health crisis Monday. On May 29, 2023, around 2:30 p.m., dispatchers received a call concerning a man with a weapon at the Sceni...

Death Investigation

We are currently investigating the death of a 45-year-old Manhattan man at the apartment complex located at 300 N. 5th St. in Manhattan.

We were called to the apartments around 3:00 p.m. on May 24, 2023, after Rick Stradtner’s body was found on the roof of the first floor of the building underneath his fourth-floor apartment.

At this time, we have no reason to believe there was an...

Click It or Ticket

May 22 – June 4, 2023, drivers in Riley County will be met with extra enforcement of both the Kansas Safety Belt Use Act and the Kansas Child Passenger Safety Act.

These statutes require that all vehicle occupants must be appropriately restrained.

Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash, no matter what make of vehicle you drive. Yet, many still don’t buc...

2024 Secondary Budget Proposal

Today, we made a secondary, adjusted budget proposal to the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency (Law Board) for 2024.

The current 2023 budget is $25,051,492, minus carryover of $51,412 for a realized cost of $25,000,080.

After presenting two initial budget proposals to the Law Board on April 17, the Law Board requested RCPD come back to the board with alternate proposals....

Arrest Made in Aggravated Burglary

Chancellor Copenhaver, 31, of Wamego was arrested Friday after he broke into an apartment armed with a shotgun.

The Riley County Communications Center received a 911 call around 8:45 a.m. on May 12, 2023, reporting an active burglary in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan. RCPD officers quickly arrived on scene and found Copenhaver behind the apartment a...

Arrestee Death

A Manhattan man passed away this morning following an arrest and confinement in the Riley County Jail.

Joseph Varvel, 25, was detained on April 28, 2023, around 1:45 a.m. in the 300 block of N. 14^th Street in Manhattan for suspicious activity. While speaking with officers, he ran and was later found in possession of cocaine. Officers on scene called for Ri...

2024 Initial Budget Proposals

Today, the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) made two initial budget proposals to the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency (Law Board) for 2024.

The current 2023 budget is $25,051,492, minus carryover of $51,412 for a realized cost of $25,000,080.

Proposed Budget 1

• Base Adjustments - $58,746
• 8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to employee salaries - $1,452,656
• General Counsel position - $95,288
• Salary ...

Inmate Death

A Manhattan woman passed away this morning while confined in the Riley County Jail.

At this time, we believe the death was caused by suicide.

Laura Pearce, 38, was found unresponsive in her single cell by Corrections Officers at 8:24 a.m. who immediately began lifesaving measures. Riley County EMS was dispatched at 8:26 a.m. and arrived a...

Arrests Made in Sunset Zoo Parking Lot Shooting

While our investigation continues into the March 6, 2023, shooting at the Sunset Zoo parking lot, we have made three initial arrests in connection to the incident.

Edgar Torres, 17, Christian Soto, 18, and Carlos Rodiguez, 23, all of Manhattan, were each arrested this afternoon on aggravated robbery charges. 

Our investigation into the incident has led us to believe the three robbed two other males, aged 17 ...

Updated Website

We’ve updated our website to enhance the accurate flow of timely information to the public and add several benefits to the citizens of Riley County.

We’ve updated our website to enhance the accurate flow of timely information to the public and add several benefits to the citizens of Riley County. 

The new website holding the same URL, RileyCountyPolice.org, was created by CivicPlus, a...

Arrest Made in Juvenile Sex Crimes Investigation

A Manhattan woman has been arrested in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred in February 2023.

The incidents were reported to involve a 13-year-old male victim known to her.

Elizabeth Butry, 28, was arrested around 11:00 a.m. on March 7, 2023, for three counts of rape, two counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct, and one count each ...

Shooting at Sunset Zoo Parking Lot

Officers were called to the parking lot of Sunset Zoo in the 2300 block of Oak St. in Manhattan on March 6, 2023, at 5:07 p.m. for the report of a shooting with one gunshot victim.

Update March 13, 2023

We are looking to identify this man who was seen by multiple witnesses running from the area of Sunset Zoo shortly after the shooting on March 6, 2023, and we'd like to speak with him about his possible involvement in the inc...

Arrest Made in February Hit and Run

A Manhattan man has been arrested in connection to a hit and run that left a man in critical condition.

Swatting Called Revealed to be Unfounded

No threat was found following a swatting call for Manhattan High School West Campus.

Around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023, morning, we received a single call on our Administrative line of an active shooter at Manhattan High School West Campus. Dispatchers quickly identified the call as a potential swatting call and dispatched our Sch...

Officers Determine No Threat in School Graffiti

Manhattan High School West Campus evacuated after a perceived threat circulated on Snapchat.

Manhattan High School West Campus was cleared around 4:40 p.m. this afternoon after a graffiti message that was found in a school bathroom circulated over Snapchat causing the school to go on lockdown. The message was perceived as a threat to a planned pe...

Arrest Made After Schools Report Suspicious Man

Manhattan man arrested following trespass incidents at USD 383 schools.

We understand parents’ concerns for their children’s safety at school and want to give an update on incidents today at multiple schools.

We were called to Susan B. Anthony Middle School around 7:30 a.m. this morning for the report of a ...

Search Warrant Leads to Arrests in Suspected Fentanyl Distribution

Great work by our Detectives and collaboration with Patrol has led to three arrests after a search warrant was conducted for suspected distribution of controlled substances in the 700 block of Mission Ave. in Manhattan on February 14, 2023.

Great work by our Detectives and collaboration with Patrol has led to three arrests after a search warrant was conducted for suspected distribution of controlled substances in the 700 block of Mission Ave. in Manhattan on February 14, 2023.

Juliana Morgan,...

Invitation: Town Halls

The communities of Leonardville, Manhattan, Randolph, and Riley are invited to Town Hall meetings with Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete.

The purpose of these meetings is for Director Peete to introduce himself and listen to community concerns, suggestions and ideas relating to RCPD and safety.

The meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

Leonardville – Thursday, ...

A Letter from Director Brian Peete

To the Riley County Community,

Over the past several days, more information has been made public as to the events surrounding the violent arrest and death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee. I am closely monitoring the information being reporte...

Invitation: Ogden Town Hall

The community of Ogden is invited to a Town Hall meeting with Riley County Police Department Director Brian Peete.

The purpose of this meeting is for Director Peete to introduce himself and listen to community concerns, suggestions and ideas relating to RCPD and safety.

The Ogden Town Hall Meeting will be held Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Ogden Commu...

Invitation: Public Welcoming Ceremony for RCPD Director Peete

All members of the Riley County/Manhattan community are invited to a welcoming ceremony for Riley County Police Department (RCPD) Director Brian Peete hosted by the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency (Law Board).

The ceremony will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Flint Hills Discovery Center First Floor, 315 S. 3^rd Street, Manhattan, Kan.

Below is an itinerary for the ceremony:

·      &a...

Gatlinburg Way Aggravated Kidnapping

Three men have been arrested in connection to a kidnapping on January 2, 2023, in Manhattan.

January 6, 2023 Update

Further investigation into Joseph Varvel, 25, of Manhattan, and Zane Thomas, 27, of Junction City, has led to our discovery of a separate incident on January 1, 2023, involving the same victim as the January 2, 2023, kidnapping on Ga...