Patrol Service Dog catches fleeing suspect; fight over truck; one arrested after teen says he was beaten by relative

photo by: Richard Gwin

C.B., one of two dogs owned by the Lawrence Police Department, trains Aug. 13.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story on the Lawrence Police Department’s new Patrol Service Dog program. During my research on the article, I got to see one of them – named “C.B.” (shortened from “Cheeseburger”) – in action.

To show off some of C.B.’s training, Officer Matt Weidel had the dog find my keys and phone, which we had strewn in the grass, by sniffing out the “human scent” that naturally rubs off on items as we go about our day.

photo by: Richard Gwin

C.B., one of two dogs owned by the Lawrence Police Department, trains Aug. 13.

I was pretty impressed with what I saw, as the most my pup can do is “sit pretty” on command. But one man who met one of the patrol service dogs last week was probably less than excited about the K-9 unit’s tricks.

Thursday, 6:49 p.m.

A police officer on patrol sees a man – 47-year-old Russell Dean Baston – with an active warrant out for his arrest inside a truck near the intersection of Fifth and North streets, Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

Baston Russell

The officer looks on as Baston stops at a residence on the north side of North Street, which is just a few feet outside city limits.

Baston has a history of violence — and of eluding law enforcement — so the officer calls for back up, McKinley said. Journal-World articles dating back to the 1990s detail Baston’s past, including a 1996 Douglas County Jail escape when he overpowered a corrections officer and a 2012 standoff with authorities he tried to flee in Jefferson County.

The officer and others responding wait outside and watch the home as more backup arrives – including Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies and an LPD patrol service dog.

As the units roll in, Baston takes notice allegedly books it out of the residence and heads northeast onto a “large, overgrown plat of property containing various sheds, brush, threes and swamp-like areas,” McKinley said.

Law enforcement repeatedly holler “Stop!”

After Baston reportedly fails to comply, the dog handler releases the dog, which chases Baston. The dog catches Baston in a swampy area, McKinley said, biting Baston in the buttock and hand as he allegedly fought to get away.

As the officers catch up to the two, the dog is recalled. Baston allegedly starts to fight officers in an apparent effort to escape. He allegedly has a large knife “described as a smaller machete-type weapon” with him during the confrontation.

After a brief struggle, officers handcuff the suspect, lead him out of the water and confiscate the knife. Baston is taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with minor injuries “as a result of fighting with the service dog and officers,” McKinley said.

The swampy area apparently was pretty messy. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office posted this photo to its page Friday of a deputy with a dirtied uniform after “assisting on arresting a subject with a warrant” in a “thick, marshy area” Thursday, the post read. I can only assume it’s in reference to the Baston ordeal.

DIRTY JOBKeeping a uniform clean is often difficult in law enforcement, as evidenced by this photo. Lt. Randy Cheek…

Posted by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Friday, August 28, 2015

As the officers round up the investigation, they find a 1995 Ford Bronco, allegedly stolen from a North Lawrence business Aug. 13, McKinley said. The Bronco’s wheels had apparently been removed and placed on another vehicle at the home, McKinley said.

They also find and seize suspected methamphetamine, a flare gun and several knives during the investigation, McKinley said.

After being treated at the hospital, Baston was jailed on suspicion of two counts of obstruction, two counts of possessing stolen property, one count of theft, six counts of drug possession-related crimes, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, plus a Kansas Department of Corrections hold.

According to KDOC records, Baston has previous convictions ranging from aggravated robbery and burglary to obstruction and aggravated escape from custody. He’s also currently on parole.
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Thursday, 8 p.m.

The story of the Baston ordeal continues.

Remember that allegedly stolen Ford Bronco? So, its owner shows up at the North Street residence where it was left. He tries to confront people nearby about possibly being involved or knowing something about Baston.

A short physical fight ensues, but when someone tells him police have been called, he leaves. Responding officers are able to find him, though, and give him a notice to appear in court on suspicion of battery.
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Thursday, 8:01 p.m.

Lawrence police respond to a report of a teenager running from a family member, screaming for help.

Upon arrival, the boy tells police that he’d been battered by the relative after an argument about the boy drinking a can of soda the suspect had purchased, McKinley said.

The family member confronted the teenager earlier that day, allegedly slapping the boy in the face while arguing with him, McKinley said. The family member told police that after that confrontation he spanked the teen – but the victim said he was actually pushed to the floor, then punched and kicked.

The boy also alleged that the family member hit him the arm with an object, “possibly a metal bat or similar object,” McKinley said.

Later that evening, the family member allegedly asked the victim to go to a friend’s house, so the teenager got in a vehicle with the suspect to be taken to a nearby residence, McKinley said.

When the vehicle stops at its destination, the boy jumps out. That’s when he starts running and calling for help. The family member allegedly chases after the teenager, but falls and hurts himself.

Police arrive, arrest the man and book him into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of aggravated battery and child abuse.
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If you don’t mind, I’m going to take a break today from tallying the police calls from the weekend. It was a very active weekend, as the call log is 21 pages long today in comparison with the average 10 to 12. I’ll have them for you tomorrow, though, as well as a roundup of highlights.