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February 4^th 2010

PRESS RELEASE

On February 3^rd, 2010 at approximately 8 pm the Overbrook Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle in Overbrook. The vehicle failed to yield to law enforcement and proceeded to flee. Within one minute of the chase, the suspect rolled his vehicle in the area of 165^th and Ratner Road in Osage County.

The driver of the vehicle, fled on foot with the Overbrook PD Officer pursing him. After a brief struggle the suspect broke free and the officer then lost sight of him. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office then assisted in the search of the area until 10:45 pm when the search was called off.

Today, February 4, 2010 at 1108 hours deputies with Osage County Sheriff’s Office, located the driver of the vehicle, Jeremy Long, 28 of Carbondale at his residence. Long was taken into custody without incident. Long is being held at the Osage County Jail pending formal charges.

UPDATE:

November 29th, 2009

James Kraig Kahler was taken into custody this morning at approximately 7:30am at 112th and S. Auburn Road in Osage County without incident. Any further requests for information are being referred to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office at 785-296-2215

November 29^th, 2009

On November 28, 2009 at 6:11 p.m., the Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded to 905 S. Topeka Ave in Burlingame located in Osage County. Deputies arrived and located four persons who had been shot. One person was pronounced dead on scene. Three others were transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Two of the three persons died shortly after arrival at the hospital. The third person transported is in critical condition.

The Osage County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are requesting the public’s assistance in the locating and questioning of James (aka Kraig) Kahler. Kahler is a white male, approximately 46 years of age. Kahler should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone having contact with Kahler should contact 911 immediately. Anyone with any information is asked to call Osage County Crimestoppers at 1-877-OSCRIME or 1-800-KSCRIME

Another press release will be available later on this morning.

PRESS RELEASE

November 14, 2009

On the morning of November 14, 2009, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Vassar cemetery for report of criminal damage to property. The damage occurred sometime during the overnight hours of November 13^th– 14^th, 2009.

Deputies found between 50 – 100 headstones that had been overturned and two that were broken. The Vassar cemetery is located south of Vassar on S. Croco Road.

Anyone with information is asked to call Osage County Crimestoppers 1-877-OSCRIME or the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 785-828-3121.

June 22, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

On June 21, 2009 at approximately 00:25 am the Osage County Sheriff's Office received a report of an accident at 333rd Street and Hoch Road. Cassandra R. Morgan, 17 of Osage City was pronounced dead at the scene. Morgan was driving a grain truck. Anyone with information about Morgan's whereabouts prior to the accident is asked to call the Osage County Sheriff's Office at 785-828-3121 or Crimestoppers at 1-877-OS-CRIME.

June 22, 2009

PRESS RELEASE # 2

Further details on the Cassandra Morgan fatality, June 21, 2009. Morgan was northbound on Hoch Road, in a 1966 International grain truck. The grain truck has been reported stolen out of Coffey County. Alcohol was a possible factor in the accident.

PRESS RELEASE

April 3rd, 2009

The Osage County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshall’s Office are asking the public for any information regarding an arson that occurred at 522 S. Topeka Avenue, Apartment #8, in Carbondale. Sometime before 4:30 am on March 13th, 2009, an unknown person or persons entered and set fire to the apartment. If you have information, please contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 785-828-3121 or Crimestoppers at 1-877-OSCRIME. Anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set the arson fire is eligible to receive a reward up to $5000 from the Kansas Committee on Arson Prevention.

PRESS RELEASE

February 15, 2009

At 5:05pm this evening, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a grass fire at Doud Campground in Eisenhower State Park at Melvern Lake. Osage County Fire District #2, Osage City, responded and extinguished the fire. After the fire was extinguished, two people were found to be in need of medical attention for conditions possibly caused by battling the fire before the fire department arrived. Osage County Fire District #2 first responders and two American Medical Response (AMR) ambulances responded. Both patients were transported to a Topeka hospital, one complaining of chest pains and the other for possible smoke inhalation.

PRESS RELEASE

February 9, 2009

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office and Osage County Emergency Management are asking the public to use caution with any burning. Between February 1^st and February 8^th, 2009, Osage County Fire Departments responded to 31 grass fires. Due to very dry conditions and high winds, fires can spread very quickly. If you are going to burn, we ask you to call the Osage County Sheriff’s Office at 785-828-3121 with your name, cellular telephone number, location of the burn, and what you will be burning. We also ask that you call back when the burn is complete. A reminder, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), only brush, fields, and clean lumber can be burnt. If you need to dispose of an old structure, you must call 785-842-4600 for KDHE. If you see any suspicious vehicles in the area prior to or during a fire, please contact the Osage County Sheriff’s Office or call 911.

PRESS RELEASE

February 6th, 2009

On the late afternoon of February 5^th, 2009, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a person who recently purchased a house in Melvern. While the home was under construction, workers found what appeared to be a human skull in a sealed cellar. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded and began an investigation. The home was secured overnight until the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office could respond this morning. Preliminary investigation reveals that it is a human skull and no other remains were located. Other deteriorated medical instruments were located near the skull. The home was owned by a doctor over 50 years ago and it is believed that the skull was used for medical purposes by the doctor. Further examination of the skull will be done by the Shawnee County Coroner’s Office. The investigation will continue by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

Press Release

January 14^th, 2009 1300hrs

On the morning of January 12, 2009 Amy Shirley received a telephone call from the school her three children attended, stating the children were not in school. Mrs. Shirley did not receive a response via telephone and went to her residence at 212 S. Lawrence in Scranton with a neighbor. Mrs. Shirley and the neighbor discovered that her house had been burnt and there were bodies in the residence.

Scranton Police Department along with Osage County Sheriff, Kansas State Fire Marshall and the Shawnee County Coroners office began an investigation.

The investigation has determined that Ethan C Shirley, 14 years of age, Ashten C Shirley, 11 years of age and Caleb Jackson Shirley, 9 years of age of the residence were all victims of a homicide.

Their father Michael L Shirley, 52 of the residence attempted to take his own life, but it was determined that he died as a result of the fire. His cause of death has been determined to be the results of a suicide.

It has been determined by our investigation that Michael Shirley killed his three children and then set the house on fire. The fire put itself out shortly after ignition. The children did not die from the fire nor gunshot injuries.

This case will continue to be an on going investigation between all agencies. Osage County Attorney Brandon Jones has been continually briefed and informed during this investigation and states there will be no charges at this time. After all reports are completed they will be reviewed by the Osage County Attorney’s Office.

Numerous lab reports are still pending in the investigation, which could take several months.

Press Conference Scheduled

Updated January 14th, 2009 @ 0920

A Press Conference in regards to the four deaths in Scranton on January 12th, 2009 will be held at 1:00, January 14th, 2009 at the Scranton City Hall, 120 W Boone Ave, Scranton.

Doors will open at 12:45 for the press to set up.

PRESS RELEASE

Update January 13^th, 2009 @ 2100

No further information will be release this evening in regards to the four deaths in Scranton yesterday. Sheriff Dunn intends to set a press conference for early afternoon on January 14^th. The time and location will be announced sometime tomorrow morning.

PRESS RELEASE

Update January 13^th, 2009 @ 1500

At this time, the autopsies and investigation are continuing in regards to the four bodies located in Scranton yesterday morning. Further information may become available later this evening or tomorrow which will be released to the media and the public. Again, anyone with any information on this is asked to call Osage County Crimestoppers at 1-877-OSCRIME.

PRESS RELEASE

On January 12, 2009 at approximately 10:39am, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a house on fire at 212 S. Lawrence Street in Scranton. Within 10 minutes of the call, it was discovered that there were four victims deceased inside the residence, one adult and three juveniles. The fire was ruled an arson by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office. The identities of the victims will not be released at this time. Autopsies will be performed to provide the cause of death. The residence is still being secured as a crime scene. The investigation is being conducted by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Scranton Police Department, and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call 1-877-OSCRIME. Further details will be made available as the investigation continues through the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

On November 29th, 2008 at approximately 6:30am, the Osage County Sheriffs Office responded to a one vehicle accident in the 23800 block of South Stanley Road, near Quenemo. Matthew Cole Soper of Quenemo was pronounced deceased at the scene. Matthew was 22 years of age. The Osage County Sheriffs Office is still investigating the accident. Osage County Fire District 4 and AMR ambulance also responded to the call.

April 10th, 2007

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas State Fire Marshall are asking for the public’s assistance to provide information to solve the business fire in Burlingame on April 3, 2007.

Anyone with information is asked to call Osage County Crimestoppers 1-877-OS-CRIME or the Kansas State Fire Marshall Crimestoppers at 1 -800-KS-CRIME.

January 31st, 2007

On January 31^st 2007 the Vassar Post Office was burglarized over the noon hour. The investigation is currently being conducted by the Osage County Sheriff Office and United State Postal Service. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Osage County Criminal Investigation Unit at 785-828-3121 or Crime Stoppers 1-877-OSCRIME.

PRESS RELEASE #1

December 22, 2006 @ 3:10 p.m.

On December 22, 2006 at 0735 hours Osage County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications were notified of a body located east of Quenemo.

Osage County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area. The body was located in Franklin County approximately ½ east of Alabama Terr. and Labette Terr., which is approximately ½ mile east of the Osage/Franklin County line. The body was located by hunters.

The body has been identified as Tonie Standley 47 years of age of Quenemo. Standley was last seen on December 7, 2006 and reported missing on December 9, 2006.

This investigation into the death of Tonie Standley will be a joint investigation between Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Osage County Sheriff’s Office. As of this time press releases will be handled through the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.

An autopsy is being conducted this afternoon.

PRESS RELEASE #2

December 22, 2006 @ 8:25 p.m.

After briefing between Osage County Sheriff's Office and Franklin County Sheriff's Office on December 22, 2006 and receiving the coroners report, the death of Tonie Standley has been ruled as a homicide.

The case will continue to be investigated as a joint effort between Osage and Franklin County Sheriff Offices.