Tag Archives: surveillance

Joplin and Kansas bank robberies possibly linked

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JOPLIN, Mo / LOUISBURG, Kan. – Authorities say a Joplin bank robbery may be linked to a bank robbery in Kansas.

According to Joplin Police Department PIO William Davis, they received information about the Louisburg, Kansas bank robbery that happened Monday morning. The Joplin Police Department is working with other agencies to determine if these bank robberies are connected. They have no other information to provide at this time.

The Miami County (KS) Sheriff’s Office and FBI are investigating, too.

One difference between the Joplin and Louisburg bank robberies – in Louisburg, authorities say he didn’t brandish a weapon.

Both agencies released surveillance images of the suspect.

LOUISBURG ROBBERY

The bank robbery in Louisberg, Kansas happened Monday morning, July 19, around 10:00 a.m. The FBI says a suspect with a KC hat and white 4-door car robbed the Landmark National Bank. Authorities say the suspect demanded cash and left with an undisclosed amount of money.

Kansas authorities say the suspect left in a white sedan. They describe the suspect as a white man who is between 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and 5 feet 8 inches tall. They say he’s heavyset with salt and pepper hair. The suspect was wearing a ball cap, white tennis shoes, and a black face mask.

JOPLIN ROBBERY

In Joplin, the robbery at Great Southern Bank happened the same day, but shortly before 1:00 p.m. During this robbery, the Joplin Police Department says the suspect displayed a weapon then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. There are no injuries.

Joplin authorities describe the suspect as a white male, approximately 5’ 5”, wearing a black facemask, blue and white KC hat, dark-colored shirt, and blue jeans. The suspect fled the scene in a white 4 door passenger car.

The Great Southern Bank is offering a reward of $3,500 for information relating to the identity, arrest, and conviction of the suspect in this case.

(Previous article: Suspect wanted in Joplin bank robbery, $3500 reward)

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5 officers charged with manslaughter in boy’s shooting death

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Five Oklahoma City police officers were charged Wednesday with first-degree manslaughter in last November’s fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy.

Stavian Rodriguez was shot by officers responding to reports of an attempted armed robbery at an Oklahoma City convenience store on Nov. 23. TV news video appears to show Rodriguez outside a gas station, dropping a gun. The boy raises his hands, then lowers them before being shot.

Oklahoma City District Attorney David Prater charged five of the responding officers with first-degree manslaughter. If convicted, they could face up to life in prison.

The officers charged are: Bethany Sears, Jared Barton, Corey Adams, John Skuta and Brad Pemberton. A sixth officer, Sarah Carli, used a “less-lethal” weapon and will not be charged, police said.

After being shot with the “less-lethal” round, while Rodriguez had one hand in his pocket and his other hand near his waistline, all five officers “unnecessarily fire lethal rounds at Stavian Rodriguez, striking him numerous times and inflicting mortal wounds,” Prater’s investigator, Willard Paige, wrote in an affidavit.

An autopsy determined Rodriguez suffered 13 gunshot wounds, Paige wrote.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the officers had attorneys who could speak on their behalf, but John George, president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police, defended their actions.

“Officers must make life and death decisions in a split second, relying on their training. When an armed robbery suspect did not obey police commands, five officers perceived the same threat and simultaneously fired their weapons,” he said. “A loss of life is always a tragedy and we know these officers did not take firing their weapons lightly. The OKC FOP stands by these officers and maintains they acted within the law.”

The officers have been on administrative leave since the shooting.

Police also released the officers’ body camera footage after the boy’s mother sued for it last month.