Press Releases
February 16th, 2010
News Release
RE: Injury Accident
On February 15, 2010 at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Pratt County sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the scene of an injury accident approximately seven miles east of Pratt.
A 2001 Chevrolet pickup, which was westbound, driven by Fred Platt, 90, of Medicene Lodge, crossed the center line and struck a eastbound 2008 Chevrolet van, driven by Bryan Wooten, 27, of Wichita. The van rolled. Both drivers were taken by Pratt County Emergency Services to Pratt County Regional Medical Center. No information is available on their condition.
It is not known at this time why Platt crossed the center line and the accident is still under investigation by the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office.
January 29th, 2010
News Release
RE: Fatality Accident
At approximately 12:07 the Pratt County Office, Pratt County Emergency Services, and Kansas Highway Patrol were dispatched to the scene of a fatality accident involving two vehicles, approximately 11.5 miles east of Pratt. At the same time all the above agencies were also responding to a possible injury accident 5 miles east of Pratt, to a semi that had jack knifed in the road and was blocking west bound traffic.
On arrival at the fatality an 18 year old female from Pratt was dead at the scene and was the driver and of a 1998 BMW. A passenger in the BMW, 20 year old Jarrid Rojas of Pratt was injured and transported by Pratt County Emergency Services to Pratt Regional Medical Center and then transferred on to Wichita.
The BMW had been westbound and according to witnesses lost control on the ice, went into the other lane, sliding around making a 180 degree turn and was struck from behind by 2006 Ford Escape, driven by 20 year old Megan Pierson, of Gooding, ID. Pierson was transported to Pratt Regional Medical Center.
Highway 54 east of Pratt and west of Kingman was closed by Kansas Department of Transportation following the accidents due to treacherous conditions and the fact the highway was blocked by wrecked vehicles.
Kingman County Emergency Medical Services from Cunningham also assisted at the scene. Pratt County had another non injury accident about mid morning which was two vehicles also east of Pratt, the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated that accident as well as the semi jack knife.
The Pratt Police Department also assisted with blocking eastbound traffic out of Pratt.
The Pratt County Sheriff’s Office would like to urge all to slow down when it is snowing and icy on the roadways.
January 8th, 2010
News Release
RE: Pratt City Fire responds to LEC
At approximately 7:01 p.m. on January 7, 2009 the Pratt City Fire Department was called to the Law Enforcement Center at 303 S. Oak due to smoke in the basement of the building. Pratt City fire crews quickly located the source of the smoke, which was a belt that had been slipping on a motor in the boiler room and was burnt off the pulley when it was found. There was no damage to the building, no heat loss, nor were there any injuries to any employees or prisoners during this incident.
December 21st, 2009
News Release
RE: Pursuit
On December 18, 2009 at approximately 10:30 p.m. a Pratt County Sheriff’s Officer was dispatched to an area 5-6 miles northwest of Pratt to a vehicle driving through fields. A short time after the officer arrived in the area he spotted a vehicle in the area. As the officer got close enough to see it was a pickup it was also apparent that the vehicle was speeding away, at which time the deputy turned on his emergency equipment to stop the vehicle. The pickup sped up to speeds of over 90 miles per hour and made several evasive turns. The deputy called off the pursuit in a short while due to the unsafe conditions. The pickup was never located after the chase was terminated.
December 18th, 2009
News Release
RE: Scams
In the last few days several people in the Pratt area have received phone calls from ones posing as a Sheriff, or the IRS(Internal Revenue Service). The caller is asking for personal information from the answering individuals. These are scams. Pratt County Sheriff Vernon Chinn would like to urge all to be extremely careful especially this time of year and beware of the dangers in these types of calls.
During Christmas all kinds of scams are out there to get your money. No law enforcement or government agency is going to call you and ask for personal information. Even though the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office has issued several warnings in the past, the same safe guards will protect you now. If you don’t make the call or initial contact, do not communicate with these people. They are experts at keeping you on the line in getting personal information from you. If you fall into their trap, you will lose your money and we cannot recover it no matter how large or small amount it is. Even some of the 800 call back numbers have a reverse cost to you that will come off your credit card or bank account.
Strangers on the phone are as dangerous as strangers at the door.
Please be safe this holiday season and always
December 7th, 2009
News Release
RE: Investigation
At 9:08 p.m. on Dec. 6th, 2009 Pratt County Sheriff’s Officers were dispatched to a scene approximately 13 miles east of Pratt on U.S. Highway 54 to the report of a vehicle that had been shot at. Pratt County Sheriff’s Officers, as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks officers responded to the scene.
On arrival officers found a 2009 Chrysler passenger car with six passengers, which had been traveling westbound on U.S. 54, with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the windshield.
A vehicle which was in the area at the same time on a rural road close to the highway was stopped by sheriff’s officers and the driver was detained for a period of time but was released after questioning.
The Pratt County Sheriff’s office is continuing the investigation into this matter and has all during the night. No names of the victims are being released at this time and no other information is available.
November 6th, 2009
News Release
RE: Investigation
On November 5, 2009 the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office and Pratt Emergency Medical Services were called to 120119 W. 1st Street, Pratt to the report of a self inflicted gunshot wound. On arrival Pratt County Sheriff’s officers found Lacey Volavka, 24 of Haviland, Ks., with a gunshot wound. Volavka was pronounced dead at the scene by Pratt County Coroner Dr. Cannatta. An autopsy has been ordered and the case is under investigation by the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office.
August 17th, 2009
News Release
RE: Investigation
On August 16, 2009 at approximately 9:00 a.m. Pratt County Ems was dispatched to a residence in a rural area SW of Pratt to the call of a man having trouble breathing. Pratt County Deputy Jimmy White also responded to scene and on arrival found a 35 year old male who had a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, later identified as 35 year old Jared Ary, was transported by Pratt County Ems to Pratt Regional Medical. He was then transported by Eagle Med to St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita where he died.
The gunshot wound was self inflicted and is still under investigation by the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office.
August 11th, 2009
News Release
RE: Sheriff Vernon Chinn attends Small and Rural Law Enforcement Summit
The United States Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center (RULEC) conducted the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Summit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 4-6, 2009. The Summit targeted small or rural law enforcement agencies with less than 50 sworn officers.
The purposes of the Summit were to educate the attendees on the resources and technical assistance available from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), obtain input from the practitioners on HIJ research priorities, identify the major problems facing small and rural agencies, conduct a training needs assessments, and collect information for the completion of a report that can help guide funding a research for these unique agencies.
Sheriff Chinn of the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office participated with approximately fifty chiefs and sheriffs from forty states, in this informative and innovative even. Some topics of discussion were communications, recruiting quality officers, records/dispatch issues, less lethal technologies, funding, forensics, and numerous other items. Sheriff Chinn stated that the most beneficial part of the Summit was the interaction with their contemporaries. “I found that other departments are facing the same issues that we encounter and that there are some solutions out there. It was also refreshing to know that NIJ and RULETC wanted input from the practitioners on what we needed to do our job.”
The Summit was funded by NIJ in a cooperative agreement with RULETC which managed the event. There was no cost to the participants and their agencies. Participants were selected from across the United States primarily due to their recognized roles as leaders in the small and rural law enforcement community.
