THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012
PAGE 19
CRIME
Car in police chase crashes, kills two
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Two people are dead after a motorist fleeing from police crashed in Kansas City, Kan.
The Kansas City Star reported that the chase started early Sunday after Roeland Park police attempted to stop a suspicious motorist.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says the vehicle fled and lost control a
short time later around an entrance to Interstate 35.
The occupants were ejected, and the vehicle caught fire and burned.
The names of the victims weren't immediately released.The patrol didn't say how many people were in the vehicle.
The patrol says alcohol was in the vehicle, but it's unclear whether it played a role in the crash. The accident is under investigation.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BASEBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Meron Abebe, from Washington D.C., right, visits the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., and the new exhibit "They Were All-Stars," during her visit for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 10, at Kauffman Stadium.
Museum sees All-Star recovery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is banking on a boost from All-Star game festivities in Kansas City this weekend as it continues to recover from the brink of closure.
The museum had fallen on hard times during the economic downturn, due in part to politics and in-fighting. But the museum has largely recovered over the past year, just in time for Major League
Baseball to bring its annual Midsummer Classic to its doorstep.
Events are planned throughout the weekend at the museum, located in the historic 18th and Vine District. Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson are among the stars involved.
Museum president Bob Kendrick won't even hazard a guess as to how many people will push through the turnstiles, but he expects a financial windfall approaching $500,000.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ODD NEWS
Woman strips naked, kicks out window
WICHITA, Kan. — Authorities say a Wichita woman stripped nude in a police car and kicked out a window.
The Wichita Eagle reported that it happened Friday night when police responded to report that a 35-year-old was exposing herself to residents at an apartment complex.
Police Sgt. Scott Brunow says the woman was partially clothed when officers arrived. She was arrested,
handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a patrol car, where she managed to undress herself.
Police say she then kicked out a side rear window.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of public nudity and criminal damage to property. Brunow says there is "no indication" whether the woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CRIME
Creator of website posting mugs of arrested criticized by public
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHAWNEE, Kan. — A northeastern Kansas man whose website posted mug shots and addresses of people arrested in Johnson County — then asked for up to $200 to take them down — is defending the site in the wake of a massive backlash from critics who complained it took advantage of people who hadn't been convicted of anything.
Matthew Creed, 30, of Shawnee, said he developed the website, Blabbermouthkc.com, as a community service to help make people aware of potential lawbreakers in their area.
"That was the biggest thing, to make others aware of those that were living around them that were breaking the law and to try to get those breaking the law to think twice about their future actions." Creed said Friday.
extortion or blackmail. The Johnson County District Attorney's office said Friday it was continuing to investigate whether Creed had violated any state laws.
Critics slammed the website, which launched in May, saying it was akin to
"This guy is just a bottom-feeding vulture," said Jay Norton, a lawyer in Johnson County who represented some people featured on the website. "The idea that he was trying to help the community is a total farce."
Creed's website featured a map of the Kansas City metro area with dots showing the Kansas or Missouri hometowns of people arrested in Johnson County. Clicking on the dots brought up the mugshots and addresses of people arrested — whether they were formally charged, much less convicted, The Kansas City Star reported.
Some of the photos were of people arrested for such infractions as being a minor in possession of tobacco or driving with expired registration.
Creed said Friday that the current version of the site was an initial test version and that it hasn't yet been fully realized. The site was temporarily offline late Thursday but was back up Friday evening.
"It's going through a transition," Creed said. He said in the future, he would like the website to focus more on charges related to drugs, alcohol, sex abuse and child support nonpayment, and perhaps eliminate some of the lesser charges.
Numerous websites post news of arrests, and often include mug shots. Some offer people a way to get such postings removed for a fee. Creed struck a nerve by combining both features, including an elaborate scale of payments to remove photos and arrest information from the site — $199.99 for prompt removal, $149.99 for removal within a few days.
Creed said he is seeking to have the site established as a nonprofit.