No charges filed in chase that ended in accident

Officials have not charged a Lawrence man who led police on a chase Saturday night in Lawrence.

Joseph Beaman, 38, was arrested after a chase that ended in an injury-causing accident at Ninth and Massachusetts streets. Beaman was booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, and two counts of battery on an officer.

Douglas County Assistant Dist. Atty. Scott McPherson said he couldn’t specify why charges weren’t filed Monday.

“Usually, it means we don’t have all the information in or we’re waiting for reports,” he said.

McPherson said the district attorney’s office had up to two years to file charges against Beaman.

Beaman was released Monday from jail.

Vandalism

Nine vehicles damaged at local strip club

Customers at a local strip club were the victims of criminal damage, after a suspect slashed the tires of nine vehicles in the parking lot of The Outhouse, 1837 North 1500 Road.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s department spokeswoman said a man who was asked to leave the club was suspected of causing more than $2,000 in damage. The incident occurred about 2:30 a.m. Oct. 26.

The sheriff’s department recently released the report. The department is questioning a suspect, but no arrest has been made.

Protest

Demonstrators claim rough police treatment

Protesters cried foul after the Lawrence Police Department arrested nine people for failing to comply with instructions and for interfering with traffic.

The arrests happened after about 25 people marched in the right lane down Ninth Street to protest U.S. military involvement in Fallujah, Iraq.

Police said they asked protesters to move out of the street several times before they made arrests. However, one protester said a police officer used unnecessary force and kicked him in the groin several times.

“I also witnessed another officer throw a woman on top of a car hood very violently,” said protester David Strano.

Strano has not filed a complaint. He said his group wanted to focus on the issue it was protesting.

“Getting kicked in the crotch is small compared to what’s going on with the people of Fallujah right now,” he said.

Wildlife

Injured bobcat captured in Olathe near I-35

Olathe — An injured bobcat, initially believed to have been struck by a vehicle, was captured Monday afternoon by animal control officers in Olathe, not far from Interstate 35.

Police Sgt. Greg O’Halloran said a few bobcats had been seen in the Johnson County area in recent years, but it wasn’t common to find one so close to a highway that sees between 50,000 and 80,000 vehicles a day.

“It’s certainly unusual to have that kind of wildlife that close to that much traffic,” he said.

He said Operation Wildlife, a nonprofit rescue organization, had the animal and would determine whether it could be saved.

“They’re assessing whether they can salvage the animal,” O’Halloran said. “If they’re able to, they’ll release it back into the wild in a more appropriate setting.”

Gasoline Prices

Pump Patrol seeks deals

The Journal-World has found a gasoline price as low as $1.86 a gallon at Fast Lane Conoco, 1414 W. Sixth St.

If you find a lower price, please call the Pump Patrol at 832-7154.