Ground and air pursuit overnight
Suspect flees on foot
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A suspect who fled on foot at the end of a police chase early this morning and was identified by his own posting on Facebook.com inadvertently turned himself in late this morning at the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.
The man, Clinton Tyler Prose of rural Lyon County, went to the sheriff's office to report that his pickup truck had been stolen, Emporia Police Chief Gary Smith said.
"So, in addition to three flat tires, a confiscated firearm, and a number of other things, he is now sitting in the Lyon County Gray Bar Motel and will have time for introspection," Smith said.
Prose turned 26 on Wednesday.
The chase began about 1 a.m. today, when police officer Harold Keiss heard squealing tires and racing engines around 12th Avenue and Industrial Road.
"So, he checked around and found a GMC gray pickup tearing around the area ...," Smith said.
The driver spun the truck's tires and exhibited reckless driving.
"(Keiss) made an attempt to pull it over and it took off on him," Smith said.
The chase went north on Industrial to 18th Avenue and over to Prairie Street, before extending farther north and into the county. The pursuit, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes, eventually involved Emporia Police officers, as well as mutual assistance from the Lyon County Sheriff's Department, the Emporia State University Police, and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The KHP called in its helicopter to help in the effort to locate the man after he fledon foot through a wooded area.
"Really, speeds never got much over about 60 because it's gravel roads," Smith said.
Officers had a license plate number to run through computer records; that led them to believe the man was heading to his house.
"They finally just put out the stop sticks and deflated his tires," he said.
The suspect baled out of his truck near the Burlingame Road, which later was revealed to be about a quarter-mile from Prose's home..
"So they called the dogs out to track him, because by now it's a felony," Smith said. "There was some concern because when they checked his vehicle he had a loaded handgun in the car."
One of the ESU officers who had seen the suspect went to the Facebook.com Web site to see if he could link the vehicle owner with the face he had seen.
"Sure enough, this guy was kind enough to put a Facebook entry on himself," Smith said. "Essentially we now have a complaint with the county attorney's office."
Smith
Smith said he was pleased with the performance of the EPD and other officers.
"They comported themselves like professionals," he said.
Comments
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Posted by msw2003 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Couldn't the police have cross referenced his name with DMV photos just as easily vs going to facebook? Just curious.
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give the cops a break. Why not praise the efforts to keep us safe from d?gers folk rather than bashing them. Why use an old dl photo when you can get all that rich public data on Facebook?
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kinda funny really... Promote "yourself" with plenty of good quality,recent photos,then go out and raise hell..Kinda like writing a holdup note on the back of your own bank statement!
Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good job, police, for finding the guy without anyone getting hurt.
What an idiot. Maybe his new profile picture will show him standing against the height chart?
Posted by msw2003 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wasn't bashing anyone just thought perhaps the police cars likely were linked with the DMV and could upload photo's as I thought the police cars where all outfitted with computers.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey msw, who cares how they id'd him, as long as they did it. whoever it was deserves to get put away for a long time for doing something so stupid...what would the ticket have been for squeeling your tires?? 50 bucks??
maybe he should pay for the KHP helo fuel for making them come down to look for him
Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dhcc66,
I think you have a great idea - I think he should have to pay for everything it took to stop him. With Unleaded at $4/gallon and I have no idea what kind of price is on the fuel that went into the chopper, but he should certainly be paying for that as well. They made that lady who ran away in Georgia and claimed to have been kidnapped pay something back for the search, etc., so why not other criminals?
It amazes me that people think running from the cops and possibly avoiding a small ticket (in comparison to what he is facing now) is worth the risk of getting caught. I have to assume the people who run have something else to hide (like a loaded handgun or drugs, etc.), but what would have happened if he'd been speeding through town, run a light and hit another car and killed or injured any of those innocent passengers? When are people going to start considering the consequences of their actions before making such stupid decisions?
Posted by rdgrey (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok they caught the guy. He was burning out and showing exabishion of speed. The chase never went over 60 mph and was in the country. They had his licence number and all the info that goes with it like address, which then can be cross reference in a number of ways. There was no doubt who he was and where he lived. Why call in the helicopters and darn near the national gaurd for something that minor. The chase itself could have ended in tragedy with others getting hurt for a minor traffic violation. You know where he lives, from the info you can get job info, phone, relatives, ect.. and most important past criminal history, if he had a history of bealing drugs, robbing banks and so forth then maybe persuit but if he is just a young country bouy who spun his tires in the wrong place then let him think he got away and get him the next morning. I am not hammering on the police because I think they do the best job with what they have to work with but maybe we should relook at the rules that involve persuits here.
Posted by jaredfromsubway (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can we be sure that not everyone on Facebook is a criminal now that this has happened? I just left MySpace because I didn't want to get raped.
Posted by rdgrey (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL wow I should take anouther spelling class.
Posted by TacoBellB (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jared -
You should stop eating so healthy and then you'd be safe.
I've heard rapists aren't chubby chasers.
Posted by b3bill (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do people like this guy who try to escape the police in their vehicle get to keep their drivers license?
I think a suitable punishment for that kind of offense is to permanently lose your drivers license anywhere in the USA and to never be able to buy automobile insurance again. Why aren't they considered to be an uninsurable driving risk? There are all too many innocent people injured and killed in vehicle chases, plus plenty of property damage too.
I think he should also pay for the entire cost of the chase. There has to be more of a deterrent to giving a vehicle chase besides some wimpy $100 ticket or whatever it is.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
b3bill: You took the words right off of my keyboard. I totally agree. We are FAR too easy on creeps and criminals. We need to return to a lawful society and the only way to do that is issue swift and severe justice.
Posted by outdoorguy (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with rdgrey,run the tag, send 1 or 2 deputies(since he lives in the county) which may be hard cause most deputies don't ever leave city limits or get off I-35. Have them wait down the road till a light comes on at house then go on in. Don't let the dramic story twist you. Clint grew up with and knows over half our local law enforcement and they knew he was more drunk and stupid than a fleeing potential killer! Get real! This ain't the next episode of "COPS" its Emporia @ 1 am!
Posted by outdoorguy (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do agree with Bjnemp, but lets start the swift and severe in order of the crime. You know we have 52 people on our sexual registry for Lyon County. And these folks live next door! Clint is getting what he deserves, but when we start hanging folks I think thier are a few people in front of some drunk guy not wanting to lose his DL again.How many Uncles have told us this same story at a gathering, but end with "I didn't get caught!"
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this is emporia@1AM? maybe what we really need to think about is sprucing up emporia enough to give the younger folks some entertainment and something to do in this town instead of letting them be so bored they burn rubber and take the cops on a wild goose chase in the middle of the night.
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow-like no one else around here has had a couple beers and spun their tires at 1 or 2am.This is such a new and heinous type of modern-day crime that we should all stand on the street corners with pitchforks and burn these heathens at the stake.
Posted by Penny (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So, if it was a stranger who had done the same thing, when he fled on foot and the officers found a loaded gun in his vehicle would you still recommend the officers not do anything? Professionals can't have one standard of response for "suspicious-looking" folks and another for "good ole boys". Thank you, officers, for doing your job well.
Posted by orlando (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard the other day of a city out east that is adding a surcharge to tickets given to speeders. Any ticket given for a chase--speeding, eluding, etc.---adding a significant surcharge would up the penalty. Sounds like a good idea!
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naw, the commissioners will just take the money and put it in the general fund, not credit it to the public service agencies. The police department tried to do that to get an automated ticket program but they are going to raise the court costs but just put it in the general fund.
On the idea of not stopping the guy, there is a liability issue if the cops don't get them stopped. If the violator drives off and hits and kills somebody, the ambulance chasers will be suing the city for not stopping the guy. It just so happens they were sitting on the house based on what the cops told me. We have no idea if the guy was impaired or what was causing his lapse in judgement.
Second, just because someone did this in the old days doesn't make it right. It is dangerous and it is a felony. There is a reason for that. Cities who banned pursuits like Washington DC saw exponential increases in shoplifting, car thefts, assaults and burglaries because they knew even if the cops discovered them, they couldn't chase them. Cops have discretion and are regulated to the eyeballs on this type of thing. You have to allow them to make the call and hold them accountable for their actions, not arm chair quarterbacks.
If this guy knew the cops he should have known better than to run and put people in danger. Most likely he will lose his license as well las receive some jail time. I bet he will have some trouble getting some car insurance in the future too.
Keep in mind the media folks ask the questions and write the story, not the police.
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
justthefacts- I made a knee-jerk comment on this earlier,and you're right.Wasn't right in the old days,and it ain't right now.
But it does still happen.He'll do some deserved time,and hopefully get his life turned around.
Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow just wow.... my confidence in our local law enforcement overfloweth. So even with all the extra cars, dogs, helicopter, and technology at their disposal our local law enforcement cannot even catch one drunken kid? Simply astonishing to me.... judging from what I have seen around here perhaps there should be some physical mandates placed upon our officers in order to ensure they can run down these dastardly criminals. I realize very well they would have caught this fellow eventually but the fact that he turned himself in before they could find him is an embarrassment to our department. The moment they found that loaded gun in vehicle running from police they should have taken this very seriously on principle and found the guy. But I digress; drunken guys passed out against trees are notoriously elusive. Clearly our tax dollars are being put to good use.
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It had to do more with safety. Would you charge into a wooded area in the dark to chase a guy who might have a gun? By the tone of your comments it's clear you don't respect cops anyway. By in large nationally police have a much higher fitness standard population. Brains over brawn my friend
Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
justthefacts
Are you serious? You mean to tell me that with dogs and a helicopter there was not enough light or backup to proceed with caution? I would wager that as cheap as night vision technology has become that there are a few pairs of that floating around as well. I respect cops, I have a stepmother that works as one in Wyandotte, they run people down all time that are far more dangerous than the local fare we have here. I just fail to see your point at all. I would just love to see the bill for this fiasco last night, yet they came up empty that is my problem. It’s a huge waste, incompetence and bad judgment. So please understand that my comments are not aimed anyone else other than our local law enforcement. Stay on topic please sir. By your logic anyone that runs into woods and is potentially dangerous should be left to their own then? To possibly end up on someone's doorstep? Forgive me but I thought we paid our police to handle situations like this, call me crazy.
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am on topic, you raised the issue of being out of shape and not catching the guy. I provided an opinion. I called and spoke to a police official here. They tell me they followed safety protocols. The dogs lost the scent of the guy when he crossed a twelve foot creek. His soaking wet condition also made it difficult to follow with the infra scope on the copter. They checked the area and cleared rather than spend more time and resources. The did set on the guy's house and apparently he didn't so up. Most likely called someone to get him after the cops left.
It's not like it looks on CSI. By most descriptions on this posting, they acted prudently and with a measure of restraint. Like I said, I doubt most people would charge into the dark (many acres don't get light up by one copter light) with a guy potentially with a gun. Most cops nationally are killed by local folks not out of town dangerous felons. Fear, booze and lack of common sense make a dangerous combination. I'm in favor of leaving it to those who have the training and were there to make the decisions and do the review to see what can be done better next time.
Posted by JessicaNelson (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Epperly has his panties in a wad :( ranger sucks!
Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
justthefacts
"Most cops nationally are killed by local folks not out of town dangerous felons."
False, please site your source if you are to make claims such as this. It is misleading, local dangerous felons maybe. Mortality in large cities is most police are killed, If you consider that local so be it.
Bottom line, 10 years ago losing this guy might have been forgivable, and that's being kind. As an avid hunter I know for a fact given half the technology, equipment and resources that I could have tracked this individual, it is not difficult considering the area he was( I am familiar with it). The police should be downplaying the incident, not crowing about good police work, its laughable it really is.
PS. I do not watch CSI, but I do subscribe to common sense and critical thinking that ground me in the logic that this whole incident is laughable to me and especially to others I know in law enforcement. Think what you will.
Posted by justthefacts (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll cite my source if you cite yours. Check the FBI uniform crime report and look at the mortality rate of officers on traffic stops, domestics and general crimes. The national incident based reporting system indicates that most police shootings are by people that live in the area. I too subscribe to common sense since there is no patent or limit on who can have it. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I've spoken to those involved and they assure me there is more here and that all the second guessing in the world won't cut it. I guess it will all come out during a trial if there is one. I had over 30 years in the business and I can assure you are ill-informed as to the technology and it's limitations. There was an officer here who was quite open about it and everybody beat him up here. If he was there, I would think that he ought to know better than the rest of us.
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