Fugitives and fire put Florence in the news
Photos of fugitives on page 10
Florence was the center of attention this past week.
On Monday, Marion County sheriff's and Florence police departments searched the city and surrounding area for Charles Horst of Chase County after he escaped custody.
Sheriff Sergeant Jeff Soyez responded to a report early Monday morning of a man and woman arguing in the parking lot of a Florence motel. When Soyez arrived, he removed Horst from a vehicle and was "patting down" the suspect when the escape occurred. The female, Anne Talkington of Matfield Green, was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Horst remains at large but is not considered armed or dangerous.
On Wednesday, the departments again were called to respond to the Florence area when Butler County and El Dorado law enforcement officers and Kansas Highway Patrol chased a speeding motorist into Marion County.
According to El Dorado Police Officer John Stewart, Jude Myers was reported traveling southbound in a brown truck on U.S.-77, just north of El Dorado. Myers had several outstanding felony drug warrants.
One of the deputies initiated a traffic stop in El Dorado and Stewart and another deputy assisted with the stop.
When the passenger door was opened by an officer, Myers put the truck in gear and drove off. The officers gave chase.
The chase went through El Dorado and out into Butler County. The chase then continued into Marion County where Shumway Road became Wagon Wheel.
Stewart continued to pursue the truck on Wagon Wheel when the vehicle turned east into a field and traveled northeast.
Myers "baled out" of the moving vehicle and fled on foot. The truck struck a tree.
Marion County and Florence law enforcement officers picked up the chase and assisted with the pursuit.
"Communications are poor in that area," said Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker, which restricted information being shared with each other by authorities.
El Dorado police officers pursued the suspect on foot. Stewart said he was within 25-50 yards of the suspect when Myers asked him why he was being chased. Stewart said there were warrants on Myers, to stop running, and he was under arrest.
Stewart continued to chase Myers on foot for approximately a mile before he lost him.
Myers was last seen approximately one-half mile south of Florence, running east/northeast. He was wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt with large white letters on the back, and carrying a baseball cap.
A K-9 unit was dispatched from KHP, as was a helicopter. A privately-owned helicopter from El Dorado also flew the area for an hour, said Becker, to try to find the elusive suspect.
Homes and buildings in the Florence area were searched, and authorities believe the suspect never crossed U.S.-50.
The suspect's estranged girlfriend recently rented a house near Goessel, said Becker, in the area where the suspect fled. Officers made contact with the girlfriend when a male was seen in the area. Officers were denied access to the home and were unable to obtain a search warrant.
Myers is wanted on nine outstanding warrants, and is not considered armed or dangerous.
After an exhaustive search of several hours, the search was called off.
At about 1:40 p.m. on Friday, a fire occurred near the U.S.-77/U.S.-50 intersection, northwest of Florence.
According to Florence Assistant Fire Chief Bob Ogle, the fire was started by an electrical spark.
"To the best of our knowledge, an electrical arc occurred," said Ogle. Westar Energy workers had been working near the site.
Burn marks on and around an electrical pole indicated the source of the fire, said Ogle.
A swift southwest wind of 30-40 mph blew the fire into a large pile of hay bales and adjoining field. A plowed field kept the fire from spreading and was contained.
"Probably about an acre burned," said Ogle, and 123 bales of hay were lost. The hay belonged to Charles DeForest, he said.
Florence, Marion, and Peabody fire departments were dispatched and assisted in extinguishing the fire. Two members of the Chase County Fire Department were in a firefighting vehicle and happened to be in the area to have the vehicle serviced. They also offered assistance.
Ogle said he and his driver didn't know what to expect when they approached the fire.
"When we turned the corner from Main Street and saw the smoke, we knew we needed help," said Ogle. "I figured it would be easier to send them back if they weren't needed."
It was a relief to Ogle and his crew to discover the smoke was caused by the burning hay bales and not a massive grass fire.
"Everything was on our side," said Ogle, regarding the promptness of extinguishing the fire. Everyone was sent within two hours.
A burn ban has been in affect for the past couple of months for Marion County and surrounding areas due to dry conditions. The fire on Friday reminded Ogle of the importance of common sense.
"Don't throw cigarettes or glass bottles out of vehicles," said Ogle. He explained that when the weather becomes warmer, glass bottles can become like a magnifying glass when the sun shines on it a certain way. The glass then becomes hot and can actually start a fire.
"Be careful welding or even grinding outdoors," he said.
