Child in car causes police to end chase

Lawrence Police abandoned a vehicle pursuit Tuesday in North Lawrence after an officer got close enough to record the license plate number and see there was a child in the car.

The chase began about 1:42 p.m. when the car refused to stop for an officer who clocked it breaking the speed limit on West Fourth Street. Another officer spotted the car at Sixth and Kentucky streets, then chased it across the Kansas River Bridge into North Lawrence.

As the vehicle turned east onto Locust Street, said Lt. David Cobb, a Lawrence Police spokesman, the officer ended the pursuit.

“The officer got close enough to be able to see the tag number … and saw a child in the car,” Cobb said.

Later in the afternoon, the Kansas Highway Patrol spotted the vehicle and stopped it in Wyandotte County, Cobb said. Cobb said the driver was identified as a Garnett woman, who was booked into jail in Wyandotte County.

Rural Lawrence resident charged in stabbing

A 38-year-old Lawrence man has been charged with aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing a woman in the hand with a screwdriver Monday night near Midland Junction.

Robert P. Petrey Jr. was in an argument with a woman about 8 p.m. at his residence, sheriff’s officials said.

He was believed to be under the influence of drugs, according to a report. Sheriff’s officials said he was taking apart the dashboard of the woman’s vehicle looking for “recording equipment.”

When the woman’s 64-year-old mother came to the scene and became involved, Petrey stabbed her in the hand, sheriff’s officials said.

The woman refused medical treatment.

A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter was called in to help find Petrey. Officers found him in a wooded area in the 1800 block of East 1650 Road, officials said.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged Petrey in Douglas County District Court with aggravated battery and criminal damage to the woman’s vehicle. Judge Pro Tem Peggy Kittel set bond at $10,000.

Treatment of rabbits prompts investigation

Lawrence Police seized seven rabbits late last week after finding them in the covered bed of a pickup truck with no food or water, according to a report.

Officers are investigating it as a case of cruelty to animals and have identified a 60-year-old Lawrence man as a suspect, said Lt. David Cobb, a police spokesman.

Police found the rabbits Friday afternoon in a parking lot in the 2400 block of Melrose Lane after someone called police to complain, according to a report. The hares were taken to the Lawrence Humane Society.

Suspect in Harley theft was employed at hotel

The man suspected of stealing a motorcycle during the weekend at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, works at the hotel, police said Tuesday.

He also has a string of felony convictions, state records show.

A hotel guest from Lincoln, Neb., woke up Sunday to find his Harley-Davidson missing. Later in the day the suspect, a 32-year-old Lawrence man, led police on a chase that ended when officers found him curled up in an outbuilding in the 2500 block of West Ninth Street Terrace.

He was arrested and taken to the Douglas County Jail, where he posted bond and was released. He’s due to appear in court June 14 and has not yet been charged with the theft.

The man was released from Kansas Department of Corrections custody March 14 , according to state records. He has two prior burglary convictions, as well as convictions for battery, fleeing to elude police, and criminal possession of a firearm, among other crimes.

The motorcycle, valued at $20,000, was recovered at a Lawrence business, the owner said.