Suspects arrested in string of Marion burglaries
Staff writer
Several unnamed suspects were arrested Jan. 7 for their involvement in a number of Marion area burglaries which have occurred during the past month.
Marion Police Chief Michel Soyez told city commissioners Monday the individuals were arrested on suspicion of burglarizing Marion Elementary School, the Pizza Hut, and two citizen's residences. Several items were recovered as evidence, he said.
He indicated several suspects, located in other areas of Kansas, are being sought for their involvement in these crimes, as well as others, and the investigation continues.
"This began about a month ago at the beginning of Christmas break when the school's (Marion Elementary) charity money was stolen," Soyez said. "Our department has spent several hundred hours doing everything from interviews to overnight surveillance of businesses.
"We got good evidence, and good investigation which granted us several cases at once. We'll be able to clear several with one group of suspects," he said.
Soyez also introduced Josh Whitwell, the newest member of the Marion Police Department, to commissioners. Whitwell, who is a Marion area resident, has been very involved in volunteer activities involving kids, Soyez said.
"Once we get up and running, Josh will be working with the youth in our town," Soyez said. "He'll be filling that niche in our department."
Whitwell will attend the law enforcement academy in February, but until that time he will be working with other officers.
In a related matter, Soyez said the police department planned to discontinue using the DARE program and would be looking for a program which would better fit the city's needs. Dave Mayfield, Marion city administrator who previously served as police chief, said the DARE program ends at fifth grade level and does not follow the children as they continue through school.
"DARE is failing because there's no follow up," Mayfield said. He also noted a lack of long-term manpower in the local police department has made it difficult to maintain a DARE officer.
"You must be a certified officer for one full year before you can become DARE certified," Mayfield said.
Soyez said the only communities where the DARE program was working were those where the departments were able to employ school resource officers.
In other police concerns, Soyez reported the following:
Jan. 6: Officers picked up a bicycle found on the outskirts of town, met with a citizen in regard to information on possible drug items and continued investigating theft cases.
Jan. 7: Officers took a report of a stolen bike, worked a non-injury accident in the Casey's General Store parking lot, and issued a verbal warning for speeding.
Jan. 8: Officers investigated a driving complaint, assisted the sheriff's office in locating cattle out on Remington Road, checked on areas where traffic signs are missing and made recommendations about what needs to be replaced. Also, an officer issued two warnings for speeding in the elementary school zone.
Jan. 9: Officers picked up a bicycle found in the yard of a residence in the 300 block of South Lincoln, assisted the McPherson and Marion County sheriff's departments with interviewing a bank robbery suspect.
Jan. 10: An officer took a report of a runaway. The juvenile was located at a local business.
Jan. 11: An officer received a report of a 10-year-old child driving on Main Street. The officer located the subject, determined the youth was actually 15 and had a learner's permit. Also, officers delivered an emergency message to a local citizen, worked a three car non-injury accident in the 300 block of South Third, issued a speeding citation, issued two curfew citations, an expired tag citation, a citation for no insurance and a citation for no driver's license.
Jan. 12: Continued investigation on burglary cases.
For the week of Dec. 30:
Dec. 30: Officers issued a warning for a defective headlight and worked a burglary and theft in the 100 block of South Freeborn.
Dec. 31: Officers met with individuals in regard to new information on a case, responded to the area of Eisenhower and Denver for a reported vehicle on fire, and worked a burglary and theft in the 400 block of Locust.
Jan. 1: Officers issued warning citations for a defective headlight and speeding, took a forgery report, and arrested a subject on a warrant.
Jan. 2: An officer was in Topeka doing a follow-up investigation on a burglary. Also, officers responded to a verbal domestic situation in the 100 block of North Roosevelt.
Jan. 3: An officer investigated an aggravated burglary and theft. Two teen-agers were arrested after officers were sent to a residence in the 200 block of Locust to respond to a report of out-of-control teens.
Jan. 4: An officer issued a warning for speeding. Officers were at the firing range for qualifications.
Jan. 5: Officers did a follow-up investigation on a burglary, recovered stolen property, assisted an outside jurisdiction with capture of suspects in one of the burglaries and also assisted with securing a stolen vehicle.
