Law Enforcement: Meth ingredient purchase leads to suspect’s arrest

An Ottawa man was charged Wednesday in Douglas County District Court for having large amounts of a substance used to make methamphetamine.

Robert E. Zoellers, 36, Ottawa, was being held late Wednesday in the Douglas County Jail on $10,000 bond. The charge filed alleges possession of ingredients for manufacturing methamphetamine, specifically pseudoephedrine.

About 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Lawrence Police were called to Dillons, 1015 W. 23rd St. Store employees said two men attempted to buy large amounts of pseudoephedrine, a chemical commonly found in sinus medicine.

Police found the men in a pickup truck in the parking lot and saw evidence of large amounts of pseudoephedrine in the truck, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said. Police believe purchases had been made from various businesses. Only Zoellers was arrested. He is to return to court Monday to schedule a preliminary hearing.

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 Kansas Legislature House speaker orders new redistricting map

Topeka  Voicing concern over hang-ups regarding congressional redistricting efforts in the Kansas Senate, House Speaker Kent Glasscock, R-Manhattan, has ordered a House committee to start fashioning a new map.

Glasscock said Wednesday that he expected a House proposal to be considered by the full House on March 15.

Two weeks ago, a Senate committee approved a congressional redistricting plan that moved Lawrence from the 3rd Congressional District to the 2nd Congressional District. But since then, the committee bill has been on hold.

Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, said the congressional plan is being held up because congressmen are working behind the scenes to get a map most advantageous to them.

“It’s a very hard map to draw because what you find when you talk to the individual congressmen is that you have mutually exclusive desires. You cannot draw a map that pleases all of the sitting congressmen,” Kerr said.

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 Crime: Officers stop, arrest suspect in pizza-delivery car theft

A man suspected of stealing a car used for pizza delivery was caught early Wednesday by Lawrence Police after a short car and foot chase.

David G. Kusiak, 19, 830 Ala., faces charges including felony theft, and was being held late Wednesday in the Douglas County Jail on $3,000 bond. He is to appear in court at 2 p.m. today to set a preliminary hearing date.

About 3 a.m. Wednesday, a patrol officer saw a 1999 Toyota Corolla speeding south on Iowa Street, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said. The officer tried to stop the car, but the driver continued south, then west on 28th Street.

The pursuit came to an end in the parking lot of an apartment complex on 27th Street west of Iowa Street. Officers caught the suspect as he tried to flee on foot, Pattrick said.

Police also learned that the car had been reported stolen Feb. 8 from a woman who was making a delivery for Gumby’s Pizza, 1445 W. 23rd St.

In addition to car theft, Kusiak is charged with fleeing and attempting to elude police, driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana, obstruction of justice and failure to obey a traffic signal.