Shooting suspect makes first court appearance
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 31-year-old Hutchinson man taken to jail Tuesday as the suspect who may have fired on officers Monday night was before Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen where he was told of the potential charges.
Jason Mendoza is expected to be charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
According to police, three Hutchinson Police officers were conducting a follow-up investigation in another matter in the 300 block of East 2nd when a single shot was fired in their direction. They found a shell casing from a .30 caliber semi-automatic handgun, but didn’t locate the round itself. A man wearing a jacket was spotted by a witness running from the scene. Officers found the jacket, but no suspect. Further investigation led to the arrest of Mendoza. Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell says he has the reports from police, so charges could be filed any time.
In court, Mendoza was asked if he had any comments on the bond and he told the judge “no.” Bond was left at $65,000 and Judge McEwen set his next court appearance for next Wednesday, if not sooner.
You may recall that Mendoza was wounded back on Dec. 4 while at an apartment on the 700 block of East 3rd. He suffered a stab wound to his left hip and was treated and released at the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. We have not heard of any arrest from that incident.
Case against Hutch man again scheduled for Thursday
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A case that has seemed to drag on and on is scheduled for a hearing once again on Thursday.
28-year-old Matthew Gulick is accused of selling drugs twice to confidential informants and there has been word that he might enter a plea in the case. But, every time it’s set for hearing in front of Judge Tim Chambers, it gets continued, either by the state or the defense.
Judge Chambers had at one point set a special setting because of the number of cases and the charges involved, but that hearing was continued. The last hearing was continued because the defense wanted to receive some additional discovery.
Gulick is charged with racketeering, two counts for the sale of methamphetamine, two counts of using a communication’s device for making a drug transaction, no tax stamp, three counts of making false information and three counts of possession of stolen property.
In the first case, he allegedly sold less than a half gram and in the second, just over two grams. He’s also accused of other crimes, including making false writing involving three pawn tickets and also being in possession of stolen property on three occasions. Those crimes occurred in October and November of last year. Gulick also faces charges in other less serious cases where the charges include theft of services and intimidation of a witness.
He remains jailed on a bond of $97,000 and Judge Tim Chambers is trying to get this case moving. He has scheduled another status hearing on Thursday.