Kansas Metropolis police officer killed by fleeing suspect whereas deploying cease sticks

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

Kansas Metropolis is mourning the lack of a police officer after he was fatally struck by a driver fleeing regulation enforcement whereas making an attempt to deploy cease sticks.

The Kansas Metropolis Police Division in Kansas recognized the slain officer as 26-year-old Hunter Simoncic. The younger officer graduated from the division's academy in 2023.

Simoncic was struck early Tuesday morning whereas deploying cease sticks on State Avenue in an effort to cease a driver who was fleeing regulation enforcement, based on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Dennis Mitchell III, 31, is accused of hitting Simoncic and is charged with capital homicide, fleeing or making an attempt to elude a police officer, prison possession of a weapon and two counts of theft, based on Wyandotte County District Legal professional Mark Dupree on Wednesday.

MAUI OFFICER KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY, POLICE CHIEF CALLS HER ‘THE FINEST OF US’

Kansas Metropolis, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic, 26, was killed on Tuesday when a driver fleeing regulation enforcement hit him with a truck whereas he was deploying cease sticks. (Officer Down Memorial Web page)

The incident started at round 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when Kansas Metropolis officers responded to stories of photographs fired on Everett Avenue, based on the division.

Officers arrived on the location at 12:40 a.m. to search out an unconscious man, later recognized as Mitchell, within the driver's seat of a truck. He awoke after they approached him and fled the scene, sparking a pursuit.

Mitchell deserted the truck he was driving for an additional truck and continued fleeing, KBI stated.

Whereas police continued pursuing Mitchell, Simoncic and one other KCKPD officer exited their automobile to stage cease sticks. When Mitchell acquired near that location, he allegedly drove towards Simoncic, hit him with the second truck and drove off.

Simoncic was taken to the College of Kansas Medical Heart, the place he was pronounced useless.

Dennis Mitchell III, 31, is accused of killing Kansas Metropolis, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic and is charged with capital homicide in his demise, amongst different crimes. (Wyandotte County Sheriff's Workplace)

UTAH POLICE OFFICERS KILLED DURING DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE RESPONSE WERE HUSBANDS, FATHERS: 'DEFINITELY HEROES'

After allegedly hitting the officer, Mitchell wrecked at round 12:55 a.m. on Kaw Drive. He was taken into custody and transported to the identical hospital as Simoncic for therapy. He was launched not lengthy after and brought to the Wyandotte County Jail.

Police stated they later discovered each vehicles Mitchell drove Tuesday night time had been reported stolen.

The division stated in a Fb submit that Simoncic's demise brings a "profound sense of loss and ache."

Earlier than becoming a member of KCKPD, Simoncic labored as a shift supervisor on the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Heart, based on the division. He additionally held a bachelor's diploma in sociology and a grasp's diploma in forensic science.

He was additionally a volunteer at Benjamin Banneker Elementary Faculty and skim to kids on a weekly foundation by way of a program often known as Result in Learn KC.

Patrol automobile belonging to slain Kansas Metropolis, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic was adorned with flowers and candles forward of a vigil deliberate for him. (Wyandotte County Sheriff's Workplace)

"Whereas he grew up in a small city in southeast Kansas, he selected to serve our group as a result of, in his phrases, ‘I need to take what I've discovered in life to make optimistic modifications in a group I imagine really deserves it.’ Let that sink in," the division wrote.