SEDGWICK COUNTY —On Monday members of the Maize Police Department were assisting the Wichita Police Department with a shoplifting call at Menard’s, 3630 N. Maize Road, that resulted in an Officer Involved Shooting where the suspect was shot, and a Maize Police Officer was injured.
On Tuesday, Maize Police released a timeline to help clarify the events of the day.
13:44:10: Menards Loss Prevention (LP) called 9-1-1 to report a known shoplifter inside the store. The suspect was reported to have taken merchandise from the store without payment at least two known times in the past.
13:46:13: Menards LP confronted suspect.
13:46:27: Suspect ran towards Maize Road – no loss – LP recovered merchandise.
13:47:08: Menards LP approached the suspect in the parking lot of the store.
13:48:13: Suspect walked towards the Auto Zone with Menards LP following at safe distance. Menards LP requested officers “trespass” the suspect from store (“trespass”= meaning, to provide documentation to the suspect that legally bars him from re-entering the store).
13:49:22: Suspect crossed Maize Road on foot. Maize PD Officer #1 saw the suspect and attempted to stop him on the west side of Maize Road. The suspect did not comply with the nofficer, concealed his hand inside his jacket, and walked east toward the Take 5 Oil Change.
Officer #1 followed the suspect in his patrol car. The suspect continued to disregard the officers’ orders to stop. The suspect walked south toward Club Carwash. The officer drove around to the east and south to attempt to intercept the suspect on the south side of the carwash.
13:52:01: Officer #1 lost visual of the suspect.
13:53:10: Officer #1 was directed by a citizen to a stormwater drain in the traffic way of the parking lot on the south side of Take 5 Oil Change. Officer #1 found the suspect hiding in the drain under a grated cover.
13:53:27: Officer #1 confronted the suspect and ordered him out of the drain. The suspect did not comply and told Officer #1 that he had a gun which Officer #1 relayed to other incoming officers.
13:53:47: Two additional Maize PD Officers arrived at the location. The suspect lifted the grate cover and stood up, exposing his upper torso to the officers, but did not climb out of the drain. Officer #1 ordered the suspect to show officers his hands, but the suspect again refused to comply. Additional orders were given to show his hands and he refused to comply. Maize PD Officer #2 approached the suspect from behind and grabbed for the suspect’s right hand, which the suspect had tucked inside his jacket, and grabbed the suspect around the left shoulder with his left hand. Officer #1 grabbed the back of the suspect’s jacket collar.
13:53:56: Maize PD Officer #3 Officer ordered the suspect to show his hands. The suspect pulled his right hand out from under his jacket in a very quick and deliberate motion and pointed it towards Officer #3.
13:53:59: Officer #3 fired two shots at the suspect. Officers #1 and #2 pulled the suspect from the drain to a seated position outside the drain with his legs still in the drain. Officer #2 retreated backwards and away from the suspect because he suffered a gunshot wound to a finger of his left hand.
Maize Police Officers have been trained in tactical medicine and carry tactical medical kits. The officers immediately began rendering aid to the suspect and the officer on scene. As they were rendering aid, the suspect tells officers, “Let me die, I came out to die today.” The suspect was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and the officer was transported to a local hospital in serious condition.
The Officer was treated and released. The suspect did not sustain life threatening injuries and will be released in the next few days. A pickup for arrest has been issued for the suspect for Aggravated Assault and Resist Arrest by the Wichita Police Department.
The Maize Officer that was injured was a 51-year-old male with 29 years of law enforcement service. The other officer is a 39-year-old male with 7 years of law enforcement service. Both officers are currently on administrative leave.