Public Safety : Johnson County Sheriff
Deputy who was injured as he chased suspect released from hospital
Jun 16, 2008, 12:37
SEDALIA, Mo. -- A Johnson County Sheriff's deputy who killed a burglary suspect June 8 after following a stolen minivan into Pettis County, has been released from a Kansas City hospital.
Deputy James Doty, who had been investigating rural burglaries in Johnson and Henry counties, had followed a minivan stolen Sunday morning in Windsor into Pettis County, The van's driver fled on foot near the intersection of Route B and Upton Road, near the Katy Trail.
Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss said Doty fired one shot, striking the male suspect, who has been identified as Shawn D. Evans, 34, of Knob Noster.
Doty fell into a culvert on the east side of Missouri Route B while he was pursuing the suspect on foot. Evans was found about 70 yards away, and later pronounced dead by Pettis County Coroner Robert Smith.
Officials said Doty was first treated at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, then taken via helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, where he was in the intensive care unit, Heiss said.
Pettis Sheriff Kevin Bond said Doty's injuries were to his lower back and legs.
Doty has been with the sheriff's department since 2006.
Heiss said Sunday that he is looking forward to Doty returning to duty soon.
Sheriff Bond said the deputy was following wheel marks left by a minivan running on its rims from a string of thefts and burglaries earlier in the day in both Johnson and Henry counties.
Bond said the deputy encountered Evans, who fled on foot before turning and pointing a handgun at the officer. Doty fired a single shot, striking Evans, who continued to run onto the Katy Trail,. His body was found in an adjacent ditch, Bond said.
The burglaries Doty was investigating mostly involved tools, guns, electronics and TVs, Heiss told Digitalburg.com.
Officers from Pettis, Johnson and Henry counties, the Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri State Park Rangers assisted with the initial investigation. The Lafayette County sheriff's office is in charge of the investigation.
Deputy James Doty, who had been investigating rural burglaries in Johnson and Henry counties, had followed a minivan stolen Sunday morning in Windsor into Pettis County, The van's driver fled on foot near the intersection of Route B and Upton Road, near the Katy Trail.
Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss said Doty fired one shot, striking the male suspect, who has been identified as Shawn D. Evans, 34, of Knob Noster.
Doty fell into a culvert on the east side of Missouri Route B while he was pursuing the suspect on foot. Evans was found about 70 yards away, and later pronounced dead by Pettis County Coroner Robert Smith.
Officials said Doty was first treated at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, then taken via helicopter to St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, where he was in the intensive care unit, Heiss said.
Pettis Sheriff Kevin Bond said Doty's injuries were to his lower back and legs.
Doty has been with the sheriff's department since 2006.
Heiss said Sunday that he is looking forward to Doty returning to duty soon.
Sheriff Bond said the deputy was following wheel marks left by a minivan running on its rims from a string of thefts and burglaries earlier in the day in both Johnson and Henry counties.
Bond said the deputy encountered Evans, who fled on foot before turning and pointing a handgun at the officer. Doty fired a single shot, striking Evans, who continued to run onto the Katy Trail,. His body was found in an adjacent ditch, Bond said.
The burglaries Doty was investigating mostly involved tools, guns, electronics and TVs, Heiss told Digitalburg.com.
Officers from Pettis, Johnson and Henry counties, the Missouri Highway Patrol and Missouri State Park Rangers assisted with the initial investigation. The Lafayette County sheriff's office is in charge of the investigation.
