Suspect in officer-involved shooting formally charged
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 29-year-old man wounded by a Hutchinson Police officer earlier this week finally appeared in court where he was read the formal charges against him.
Justin Matthews has been charged by the state with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, that being a knife. He’s also charged with aggravated assault against his mom using the same knife. The third charge is criminal threat against his mother.
Matthews was released from Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center on Tuesday after receiving treatment for a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. This occurred at a home on 300 E. 10th.
Police Sgt. Josh Radloff was the first to arrive at the scene Monday and confronted Matthews, who’s alleged to have charged at him with a knife. The officer then fired, wounding Matthews.
In court, he asked for a reduction of the $100,000 bond, saying he would stay with his grandmother. He also told the court that he was under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol. But, District Attorney Keith Schroeder argued against any reduction, calling him a danger to the community and himself. He told the judge until they sort some things out, they wanted him to remain in jail. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen agreed and the bond was left the same. Judge McEwen decided because of his relationship with the officer involved, the case should continue under another judge. The case will be before Judge Joe McCarville as part of a waiver-status docket on Dec. 10.
The Regional Public Defenders Office was assigned to represent him.
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State refiles drug case against Hutchinson man
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 24-year-old man charged with possession of cocaine, anabolic steroids and marijuana with a prior conviction last year saw the charges dropped by the state. Now the charges against Jordan Thomas have been refiled, but are a little more serious.
The drug case goes back to Feb. 16, 2013. Drug Unit Detectives did a search of the bedroom where they believe Thomas was staying at, this in the 1100 block of East B. They allegedly found drugs.
The state has now charged Thomas with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, saying they found between 3.5 and 100 grams of the drug. In the alternative, the state charged him with possession of cocaine. Other charges include possession of anabolic steroids and possession of marijuana.
His case moves to a waiver-status docket on Nov. 26.
Thomas is well known for other criminal cases and had been on corrections since he ran from a courtroom in September of 2011 after he had been ordered to Larned for a mental evaluation. He was given 18 months corrections with an underlying sentence of 19 months. Plus he has other convictions for drugs and criminal threat.
You may also remember Thomas as the man who nearly lost his life in a shooting incident back on Sept. 15, 2009. He was wounded in the face when he and another man arrived at an east side apartment, allegedly to rob Leonardo Velázquez-Vieyra of his drugs. Thomas was shot in the face with a shotgun and lost his right eye in that exchange.
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Hutch man in aggravated kidnapping formally charged
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 22-year-old man arrested after an altercation with his girlfriend was back before a judge this morning because the state had filed the formal charges.
Demetrius Cantu was read the complaint, which consists of two charges. The first count is the most serious, which is aggravated kidnapping, a level one person felony that could see him sentenced to a maximum of nearly 56 years in prison. The other charge is aggravated battery.
Cantu is accused of battering his girlfriend and grabbing her by the hair, then forcing her back into a home as she tried to leave to get away from him. This happened in the 800 block of East 5th just before 1 a.m. Sunday.
He remains jailed on a bond set at $101,750. His attempt to have the bond reduced was denied.
The case now moves to a waiver-status docket on Nov. 19.