Maize Police Chief Jeff Weible has released more information on Monday’s confrontation between two of his officers and a shoplifting suspect that left one officer and the suspect with injuries.
Weible said the two officers were responding to a report of a shoplifter at a Menard’s store near 37th Street North and Rock Road. They saw the suspect walking along Maize Road and attempted to stop him, but he went toward a car wash and the officers found him hiding in a storm drain under a grated cover. The suspect lifted the grated cover and refused to comply with orders to show his hands. Weible said the officers grabbed the suspect and he pulled his right hand out in a quick and deliberate motion and pointed it toward a third officer at the scene. The third officer fired two shots. The suspect was injured and one of the officers who had grabbed him had an injury to his left hand.
Weible said the injured officer was treated and released, and he is 51 years of age with 29 years of law enforcement service. The other officer is 39-years of age with 7 years of law enforcement service. The officers have been placed on administrative leave.
The 41-year-old suspect did not have life-threatening injuries and he is expected to be released in a few days. A warrant has been issued for the suspect for aggravated assault and resisting arrest.
Wichita police and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the shooting and a report will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
