OFFICERS AT WORK

Merriam police officers respond to many different types of service calls. The following are examples of memorable incidents handled by Merriam officers in 2022. The incidents on this list were submitted by patrol supervisors.

Domestic Violence Aggravated Assault

JAN. 6 // Case #2200034: A woman called police after her child’s father broke into the residence and held a gun to her head. She was able to call the police department. The man fled on foot after hearing the police sirens and a rush warrant was granted. He broke into the same residence about a month later and was arrested. He continued to contact the victim in violation of a protection order. He has multiple cases pending in district court.

Sgt. Weiler, Det. Jasinski, Det. Ruby

Robbery

JAN. 29 // Case #2200224: A man robbed a Merriam business and then a business in Lenexa. The evening before, the same man committed a robbery in Independence, Missouri. After the Lenexa robbery, Missouri Highway Patrol arrested the suspect. He was still wearing the same clothes from the robberies.

Det. Ruby, PO Keith

Discharge Of A Firearm

JAN. 30 // CASE #2200224: After several calls of shots fired, a vehicle was located near the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch Road with bullet holes in it. The vehicle was reported stolen a few hours earlier, so it was processed by investigations. A fingerprint analysis came back to a teen who was connected to multiple robberies in the Kansas City metro area. The charges were waived to adult status.

Sgt. Weiler, MPO Soucie

Electronic Solicitation

MAR. 11 // Case #2200614: A father reported that he found explicit messages on his 12-year-old daughter’s phone. Officers learned that her 42-year-old uncle was soliciting sex with her. He denied physical contact but admitted to the texts. The acts occurred in Missouri. He was charged in district court.

Det. Ruby, PO Berry

Homicide

MAR. 27 // Case #2200756: Officers were called about a subject who had been shot inside a residence. Officers arrived and began life saving measures before medical personnel took over. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness identified the suspect. The suspect fled and later had an attorney call to say he declined to speak with us. The District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges.

Sgt. Weiler, Det. Jasinski, Det. Hirsch, Det. Ruby, PO Keith

Aggravated Robbery

JULY 30 // Case #2202048: During a drug deal at a residence, two suspects showed handguns and moved people around the residence while they looked for money. The suspects fled out a back window after officers arrived.

About an hour later, the suspects got an Uber. The driver thought they were acting weird, so he drove them to police cars parked nearby. During a home search, officers found the guns and a stolen car. The suspects were arrested and charged.

Sgt.Weiler,Sgt.Jasinski,Det.Hirsch, MPODaniels,MPOBates,MPOSoucie,POHoff

AGGRAVATED ROBBERY/KIDNAPPING

SEPT. 2 // Case #2202423: A man met a woman online and was invited over to her home. When he got inside, the woman and her boyfriend robbed the man at gunpoint then went out to his car and stole items from the car. They let the man go, and he called police. The subjects were arrested and later confessed. They admitted this wasn’t the first time they had done this.

Sgt.Weiler,Sgt.Herron,Det.Ruby,MPOSoucie,PO Berry

Aggravated Battery

oct. 4 // Case #2202751: A man was driving down the highway and was shot after a road rage incident a few minutes earlier. Through camera footage, the suspect vehicle could be seen driving into a nearby apartment complex. Due to the time of night, only general information could be determined about the vehicle. Crime lab results on the shell casings recovered from the scene provided more information for follow-up.

Sgt.Weiler,Sgt.Herron,Det.Hirsch,MPOBilyeu

Homicide

Oct. 21 // Case #22002933: A man called 911 and said he’d been stabbed multiple times by an unknown suspect. Officers arrived and found the victim dead in his home. Evidence at the crime scene led to a suspect. As work was done to put the suspect at the scene, officers developed additional leads. A warrant was obtained for the suspect, who didn’t want to talk to detectives. A second suspect was developed, and he confessed to the murder with the other suspect. Capt.Duvanel,Sgt.Waters,Sgt.Weiler,Sgt.Jasinski, Det.Ruby,Det.Hirsch,POHoff,POBerry,PO

Vincent,CAPotts