Suspect injures officer

A Lawrence Police officer attempting to arrest a woman suspected of shoplifting suffered cuts when the suspect kicked out a patrol car window.

The 25-year-old Lawrence suspect also suffered a cut to the leg, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said. She was treated by medics at the scene and then taken to Douglas County Jail, where she was released on $5,000 bond.

About 5:30 p.m. Friday, while investigating reported thefts from RadioShack stores at 711 W. 23rd and 3221 Iowa streets, officers located the woman in the parking lot of Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St., Pattrick said.

Officers found at least one of the stolen items in her vehicle and arrested her and a 26-year-old man with her.

The woman was uncooperative, Pattrick said, and officers called for a patrol car with a cage. When an officer attempted to open the door, the suspect kicked out the window, throwing glass into the officer’s face. The officer suffered cuts to the face and an abrasion to the eye, Pattrick said.

Man killed while changing tire

Kansas City, Mo. Kansas City, Mo., police are awaiting the results of a toxicology report for a driver who hit and killed an Independence, Mo., resident around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Melvin Keith Barnhart was southbound on Interstate 435 near 23rd Street when he pulled to the side of the road to fix a flat tire, police said.

A motorist assist from the Missouri Department of Transportation pulled over to help Barnhart, but almost simultaneously a black Chevrolet truck sideswiped the motorist assist and hit Barnhart, who was kneeling next to his left, rear tire.

Barnhart, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver of the truck, whose name was not released, was held for investigation for 24 hours. Empty beer bottles were found in his truck, police said, but further action will not be taken until blood alcohol content levels are determined.

Kidnapping hearing delayed

The preliminary hearing for a man charged in the June 2000 kidnapping and beating of a Free State High School student has been postponed until later this month.

Michael James Yellowbird, 23, appeared Monday in Douglas County District Court for what was scheduled as a preliminary hearing. Assistant Douglas County Dist. Atty. Angela Wilson requested a continuance to serve subpoenas, and District Judge Jack Murphy rescheduled the preliminary hearing for 2 p.m. Sept. 30.

Yellowbird is accused of kidnapping a then-17-year-old boy from outside Lawrence High School, 1901 La., where the boy was taking a summer class. He is charged with aggravated kidnapping and battery in the case.

Yellowbird is being held in Douglas County Jail on $10,000 bond. Booking records list Yellowbird as a resident of Phoenix.

Groups plan Saturday protest

Opponents of the Bush administration’s proposed war with Iraq will have a noon rally Saturday by the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Plans call for the group to march along Massachusetts Street to Eighth Street and to return to the Courthouse.

The Kansas Greens and the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice are sponsoring the rally.

Coalition coordinator Allan Hanson said the rally was in response to calls for more demonstrations after the groups’ Sept. 7 rally downtown. For more information, call Hanson, 841-3026.