Daily News - November 28, 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 - November 27, 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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Man Arrested After Vehicle Pursuit

Officers safely apprehended an armed man at Walmart after a vehicle chase earlier this morning.

Around 4:28 a.m., a driver committing multiple traffic offenses led Riley County Police Department officers on a pursuit. The vehicle was later located, but the driver, later identified Gerry Wayne Phillips II, was not on the scene. 

Around 9:10 a...

Thanksgiving Safe Arrival

Beginning Saturday, November 18, through Sunday, November 26, the Riley County Police Department will join local and state police agencies across Kansas in the Thanksgiving Safe Arrival traffic enforcement campaign.

Beginning Saturday, November 18, through Sunday, November 26, the Riley County Police Department will join local and state police agencies across Kansas in the Thanksgiving Safe Arrival traffic enforcement campaign. 

Although all Kansas Traffic La...

Three Arrested After Weekend Shooting - Attempt to Locate Additional Subject

Three local men have been arrested for attempted murder after a shooting at a house party Saturday.

Cordarius Gowdy, 21, of Ogden, Damerius McGee, 18, of Ogden and Christopher Stowers, 21, of Manhattan were each arrested today on probable cause offenses of attempted first-degree murder (x3), aggravated battery (x3), and one count of firing into an occup...

Three Injured in Overnight Shooting

Three people were injured after a shooting in the 400 block of Bluemont early this morning.

The Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls around 2:50 a.m. reporting gunfire. When officers arrived on scene, they found 2 male victims with gunshot wounds. A 3rd male victim arrived at the hospital with a gunshot ...

Attempted ATM Theft & Vehicle Arson

Do you recognize these two? We would like to identify them in connection to an attempted theft and criminal damage to property case at Union State Bank in Randolph.

On Thursday, October 12, around 3:15 AM, surveillance video shows a 2015 Ford F150 enter the drive through at the bank. Two males wearing dark clothes and dark masks exit the truck and attempt to break into the ATM. No money was taken, but damage to the A...

County Commissioners Proclaim CoResponder Week

In recognition of their service to our community, the Riley County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed the week of September 18th as “National CoResponder and Crisis Responder Week.”

The proclamation said Riley County has continued to address the rising demand for mental health and substance use services. 

Riley County Police Department’s CoResponder Program was established in 2017 to embed mental health clinicians w...

2023 Community Night Out

Join us this Tuesday for our annual community-building event helping bring police and first responders together with citizens under positive circumstances.

Enjoy free food and a meet-and-greet with Riley County Police Department employees, specialty teams, emergency service units, and other local partners. Community Night Out promotes strong police-community partnerships and camaraderie.

"When the people...

Attempted Robbery Suspect Arrested

Detailed police work and a successful tracking from K9 Monster resulted in a Manhattan man’s arrest overnight for attempting to rob a food delivery driver for the second time.

Detailed police work and a successful tracking from K9 Monster resulted in a Manhattan man’s arrest overnight for attempting to rob a food delivery driver for the second time. 

The Riley County Police Department Communications Center rec...

Nebraska Man Arrested on Child Sex Crimes

A Nebraska man was arrested last night for child sex crimes reported earlier this year.

A Nebraska man was arrested last night for child sex crimes reported earlier this year. Nicholas Seeman, 24, of Lincoln was arrested after being transported to the Riley County Police Department on September 25, 2023, around 9:30 PM. Seeman was arrested o...

Arrest Made after Fire Threatens Structures in Hunter's Island Area of Manhattan

Daniel Lee, 39, of Manhattan was arrested today in association with a fire that threatened structures in a neighborhood south of Ft. Riley Blvd. and an aggravated battery earlier in the day.

The fire is currently under investigation by the Office of the Kansas Fire Marshal.It was reported Lee hit a 48-year-old man known to him with a kitchen pan causing lacerations while at a residence in the 900 block of S. Collins Lane. The man was...

Arrest Made in Sex Crimes Investigations

Clark Petersen, 64, of Manhattan was arrested this morning in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred at his chiropractic office between 2018 and 2022 involving five female victims now between the ages of 37 and 59.

Petersen was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for 16 counts of sexual battery and one count each of rape, aggravated sexual battery, and lewd and lascivious behavior. He remains confined in the Riley County Jail with a total bond of $300,...

Shooting Outside Aggieville Leaves One Hospitalized

A 35-year-old woman has been hospitalized following an overnight shooting outside the Aggieville Business District.

RCPD officers heard and responded to multiple gunshots in the 1100 block of Laramie St. shortly before 2:00 a.m. on August 20, 2023.

Officers arrived on scene immediately and found the woman suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The woman was transport...

Arrest Made in Aggravated Burglary, Sexual Assault

Brandon Cameron, 40, of Manhattan was taken into custody Sunday following a report he broke into a home and committed a sexual assault Saturday night.

The Riley County Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 11:45 p.m. on August 12, 2023, from a 26-year-old woman reporting a burglary in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan. Upon arrival, officers discovered a sexual assault ...

You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. is Just Ahead

During the period of August 19 through Labor Day, September 4, RCPD will join other agencies across Kansas in a crackdown aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roadways during the You Drink. You Drive. You Lose. enforcement campaign.

One person is killed in a drunk driving crash every 52 minutes in the United States. Alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination - just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger.

“Drinking and driving isn&rsquo...

Manhattan Man Arrested for Sex Crimes

Darryl Klemick, 18, of Manhattan was arrested yesterday, July 25, 2023, in connection to multiple incidents involving a now 16-year-old female victim known to Klemick with the offenses occurring between November 2022 and May 2023.

Klemick was already confined on previous charges when he was arrested for three counts of electronic solicitation, four counts each of sexual exploitation of a child and unlawful sexual relations, and five counts of unlawful voluntary sexual relations.

A $...

K9 Moses Joins RCPD as First Patrol K9

K9 Moses joins the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) as the first patrol K9 in the history of the department.

The three-year-old Belgian Malinois marks the sixth addition to the RCPD K9 program since its inception in 2004. Moses received specialized training and is certified to detect illegal narcotic odors and is also the first K9 in RCPD history to be equipped ...

Junction City Juveniles Arrested for Colorado St. Shootings

Additional arrests have been made in connection to June and July 2022 shootings in the 700 block of Colorado St. in Manhattan.

Shaan Hyman, 16, and Marvin Fernandez, 17, both of Junction City were arrested on Riley County District Court warrants by the Junction City Police Department on July 17, 2023.

Hyman was arrested for criminal discharge of a weapon and two counts each of att...

Arrest Made for Sex Crimes

Matthew Hinton, 36, of Wichita was arrested Friday, July 14, 2023, after officers responded to a call reporting two people engaging in inappropriate behavior in a vehicle at City Park in Manhattan around 2:15 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers identified Hinton and a 14-year-old female in the vehicle.

Further investigation led to Hinton’s arrest for indecent liberties with a child and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Hinton remains confined in the Riley County ...

Joint Training Exercise Held at Amanda Arnold Elementary

July 10-12, we held our annual active violence training exercise over the course of three days at Amanda Arnold Elementary School in Manhattan.

Since 2016, this training has been bringing emergency response agencies together to prepare for active violence situations.

"There is an unfortunate new norm that has made our collective way of life unrecognizable from years past," RCPD Dir...

Joint Training Exercise

RCPD and emergency personnel from the Manhattan Fire Department, Riley County EMS, and other emergency service partners will be participating in a joint active violence training exercise taking place over three consecutive days next week.

This training will focus on streamlining interagency cooperation during crisis situations.

“This type of realistic training is designed to give our officers the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to resolve a terrible situation like this...

Arrests Made in Suspected Fentanyl-Related Overdose Cases

We’ve arrested four individuals on Riley County District Court warrants in connection to three suspected fentanyl-related overdose cases.

Ronald Ince, 59, of Manhattan was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance causing death, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and use of a communication facility for a drug transaction. Ince remains con...

2024 Budget Approved

Today, the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency (Law Board) approved the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) Budget for 2024. The approved budget is $26,937,092 minus a carryover of $256,633 for a realized cost of $26,680,459.

The realized cost represents the actual costs to taxpayers in Riley County. 

The goal of the 2024 budget is focusing on the personnel needs we continue to face,” RCPD Director Brian Peete said. “As a service-based department, w...

Arrest Made in Homicide Investigation

A six-month investigation by RCPD detectives led to the arrest of Caleb Perry, 32, of Manhattan today in connection to the murder of a 42-year-old woman in Manhattan.

On January 8, 2023, around 1:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. for a welfare check. After arriving, officers found Takeera Griffin dead in her apartment, and Perry on scene.

An autopsy later determined Griffin&rsquo...

Arrests Made in Suspected Fentanyl-Related Death

Yesterday, three individuals were taken into custody on Pottawatomie County District Court warrants in connection to the suspected fentanyl-related death of an 18-year-old man at a hotel in Manhattan on March 11, 2023.

Noah Baker, 19, of Junction City; McKaine Farr, 21, of Wamego; and Shawn Samuelson, 22, of Manhattan were all arrested for distribution of a controlled substance causing death. Baker was arrested in Junction City with assistance from the Junction City Pol...

Law Board Tables Budget Discussion

Today, the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) presented the Published Budget for final approval to the Riley County Law Enforcement Agency (Law Board).

Board members voted to table the discussion for a future Special Law Board meeting. The date for that meeting has yet to be determined but must take place on or before July 3.

A request from board members was also made for RCPD staff to present a further r...

RCPD Investigating Suspected Fentanyl-Related Deaths

RCPD has taken reports of eight suspected fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Riley County since the beginning of 2023.

The majority of these overdoses are occurring in young adults aged 18-24.We continue to see counterfeit Oxycodone pills, commonly referred to as “dirty 30s", in the majority of these overdoses and in other drug-related crimes in the county....

Inmate Charged with Child Sex Crimes

A Riley County Jail inmate has been arrested on child sex crime charges stemming from his involvement with a minor through video visitation 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 video visitation privileges with a tablet by engaging in inappropriate acts with a 15-year-old girl through video visitation. Officers ide...

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.

Dispatchers received a call concerning a man with a weapon at the Scenic Woods apartments in the 300 block of Hunter Place in Manhattan on May 29, 2023, around 2:30 p.m.When officers arrived on scene they found a 25-year-old male threatening to harm himse...

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 buckle up. Th...

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&am...

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 Ci...

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.

Officers were called to the 4700 block of Skyway Dr. on February 11, 2023, around 9:30 p.m. after a 30-year-old man was found on the side of the road with injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle.

He was transported to Via Christi and later to Storm...

Swatting Called Revealed to be Unfounded

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

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

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.

Juliana Morgan, 18, of Junction City was arrested in the 700 block of Mission Ave. for interference with LEO as officers conducted the search warrant at a residence. Morgan was issued a total bond of $2,000 and is no longer confined at the time of this re...

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:

·  Welcome and opening remarks &...

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...