The bulk of the investigation has been completed in the case of a man who died July 18 while in the custody of the Leavenworth police, a police spokesman said.
Local officials are now waiting on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to complete a report on the investigation and submit it to the Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office for review, according to Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens.
The KBI was asked to oversee the investigation of the death of Edward Stevenson, 46, Lansing.
He died July 18 after being taken into police custody in downtown Leavenworth.
Kitchens said Stevenson became combative with police, and officers used Taser guns in an attempt to restrain him. Officers eventually were able to subdue him using physical force.
Stevenson was placed on a gurney and Leavenworth County EMS personnel began to treat him. He then suffered what Kitchens described as “severe medical issues.”
Stevenson later was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Kitchens said completing the report will not be a simple endeavor for the KBI.
“We’re talking a couple of weeks probably,” he said.
Police came into contact with Stevenson July 18 after he reportedly entered the Cyclone bar, 610 Cherokee St., and asked for help.
Lisa Pearson said she was at the bar when Stevenson entered.
“He ran in,” she said. “He actually bumped into me.”
Pearson said Stevenson asked someone to call 911 and said, “They’re going to shoot me.”
At one point, Stevenson tried to get behind the bar but was blocked by the bartender.
Pearson said Stevenson eventually “bolted” out of the establishment.
Police found him a block away, according to Kitchens.
Stevenson’s death followed a May 22 incident in which Reginald Jones was shot and killed by a Leavenworth police officer.
Jones had shot at the officer, who returned fire. The county attorney determined the officer had acted in self defense.
Kitchens said he doesn’t see the May 22 and July 18 incidents as a trend.
“These are two entirely different circumstances,” he said.
Leavenworth, Kan. —
