16
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
JULY 6-JULY 12.2005
CRIME
Man escapes police custody
By Liz NARTOWICZ
lnartowicz@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Lance Dennis, 24-year-old Lawrence resident, escaped police custody on June 24 when he jumped out of a moving squad car near the intersection of Sixth and Michigan streets, according to Sgt. Dan Ward, Lawrence police spokesman.
Dennis was arrested on charges of domestic battery and possession of marijuana. Dennis' girlfriend called police to her home on north Michigan Street after Dennis allegedly slapped her across the face with an open hand.
Ward said the arresting officer found marijuana on Dennis. Officer Eric Maack, who arrested Dennis, declined to comment on the incident and referred all inquiries to Ward.
Ward could not reveal specifics about what happened because of policy, but said the squad car was traveling at a slow speed and no one was hurt. Ward was unsure how Dennis escaped because squad cars are built with child-safety locks that prevent anyone from opening rear doors from the inside. Police officers are required to check these locks before patrolling.
"The locks should stay active all the time," Ward said. "This time they were unlocked."
Ward said the department would look into why the locks were deactivated. Defective latches are a possibility, he said.
After jumping from the squad car, Dennis, still in handcuffs, sprinted his way to Arkansas Street. Construction workers with Dobbs Associates at McDonald's, 1309 W. Sixth St., noticed the disturbance.
"We knew something was going on, we had no idea what it was, but we heard the sirens," said Rocky Weber, the on-site
construction manager.
Weber said after he heard the sirens he looked up from his work and saw three squad cars approaching. He said, to his knowledge, no one on the crew saw Dennis. The crew was working in front of McDonald's while Dennis allegedly ran behind the building through the parking lot.
Although Derek Lavalette, foreman for the McDonald's reconstruction, did not witness the incident, he still had a strong opinion about the matter.
“This is a big safety issue," Lavelette said. "He could have hurt himself or someone else jumping out in traffic."
Lavalette said he held the police accountable for the incident.
"Cops are supposed to have control of their prisoner at all times," Lavalette said. "They should have made sure the car worked right."
Dennis ran south on Michigan Street and entered the Woods of Old West Lawrence apartment complex, 630 Michigan St., where he stayed until police arrived and recaptured him.
Billy Roberts, complex manager, said the chase ended in a matter of minutes.
"The guy wasn't very smart," Roberts said. "The entire property is fenced in."
The complex has only one entrance and exit, which are adjacent to one another. Roberts said when the police arrived they simply blocked off the entrance and waited.
Officers took Dennis to the Douglas County Jail where escaping custody was added to the charges against him. Dennis was booked at 3:07 pm on June 24 and bail was set at $10,000. Dennis was released the morning of June 26. His hearing is pending.
- Edited by Erin M. Droste
NATION
O'Connor plans to retire; Rehnquist may do same
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court retirement watch is far from over. After Sandra Day O'Connor's surprise announcement last week, the attention is focused again on ailing Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and the prospect of simultaneous high court openings for the first time in 34 years.
President Bush, traveling in Europe this week, has said he will not immediately name O'Connor's successor. That gives Rehnquist more time to ponder his future.
He could join O'Connor in retiring, setting the stage for a double nomination and Senate confirmation fight. Or he could remain on the job, overseeing the court through its first turnover since 1994.
So far Rehnquist, who is 80, has
O'Connor, 75, said Friday she would be leaving after 24 years to spend time with her husband, who is ill.The announcement was a surprise since most attention had been focused on Rehquist.
given no hints. His health is the biggest question. He received radiation and chemotherapy last fall for thyroid cancer. While his condition improved enough for him to return to the bench in March, he's appeared frail in recent weeks.
"My guess is now that O'Connor has stood down, the White House is fully prepared for both possibilities," said Pat Buchanan, who advised Presidents Nixon and Reagan on Supreme Court vacancies. "They would probably prefer to get both done at once."
It's unclear whether Rehnquist had any advance notice about O'Connor's plans. And her action may keep the chief justice on the court longer.
— The Associated Press