Prosecutors on Thursday filed an amended complaint, adding charges for the second time against a 47-year-old woman accused of murdering her husband.

Angela Mason was originally charged in May with involuntary manslaughter, for the fatal shooting of her husband Jeffery Mason at the couple’s home on March 3. Earlier this month, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint charging Mason with second-degree murder, or in the alternative voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.

On Thursday, a new complaint was filed, adding one count of armed criminal action to the other three.

Associate Judge Keith Marquart conducted a rare preliminary hearing in the case Thursday. Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins questioned a police detective and a crime scene investigator, who testified about their investigation into the shooting and the autopsy. Both said that Mason asserted the shooting happened accidentally, during an argument over her husband’s drinking.

But a polygraph examiner and a prison inmate also testified about incriminating comments allegedly made by the defendant. Allen Jenerich, the polygraph examiner, said that after he finished conducting a lie-detector test the defendant said she had deliberately pulled the trigger.

Scroggins also called an inmate from the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Corrections Center, where both the defendant and the victim worked. The inmate said he had a conversation with Mason about extra duties he’d been assigned by Mason’s husband. Inmate Odell Carter testified that Mason said he “wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore,” that “she would take care of him.” Later on, Carter read about the homicide and wrote a letter to the court saying that the killing was a murder.

Judge Marquart ruled there was sufficient probable cause in the case to certify it for Circuit Court. Mason is scheduled for arraignment on June 29 at 8:30 am. She remains free on $25,000 bond.

Court proceedings have been delayed against a St. Joseph teen charged with manslaughter for a crash in April in which four other teenagers died.

Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins told Judge Daniel Kellogg that investigators are still waiting on lab reports, and don’t know when they’ll get them. Skylar Lucas-Cox is being held without bail on two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of 2nd degree assault. His case was continued until August 8 at 8:30 am.

As we reported April 14, a crash in a stolen vehicle on Riverside Road near cook Road claimed the lives of Karlo Ginn, Dayton Crockett, Dasean Darden and Javion Thompson. Three others were injured, including the defendant and the other driver in the crash. Court documents assert Lucas-Cox was driving recklessly in a stolen vehicle, and that after the crash he tested positive for cocaine, marijuana and benzodiazepines.

Lucas-Cox remains in custody at the Buchanan County Jail.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said early Thursday morning a K-9 was able to locate a man who allegedly ran from deputies within minutes of searching for him in a field.

Sheriff John Merchant said around 3 a.m. an Officer with Sac and Fox noticed a vehicle in a ditch with the driver as the lone occupant near Pemberton Village in Hiawatha. He said the driver drove away and a vehicle chase took place for about five to six miles with Sac and Fox PD. The vehicle then went off the roadway in the area of 260th and Plum Tree and the driver allegedly ran from the scene on foot.

“Brown County deputies, Wildlife and Parks K-9 and Kickapoo PD assisted Sac and Fox PD in the search. Approximately 100 yards from the vehicle in tall corn, the driver, Zachariah Brown, 34 of Highland was located and arrested without incident by Wildlife and Parks Officer Scott Stoughton and K-9 Hunter within 6 minutes of the search,” Merchant said.

Brown was booked into the Brown County Jail on charges of felony flee to elude Brown County $7,500 Warrant for Flee to Elude, and Nemaha County $5,000 Warrant. Merchant said possible other charges are pending.

Missouri Western State University plans to close campus for the Total Solar Eclipse in August.

According to an email sent out by Western President, Dr. Bob Vartabedian, after consulting with the school’s Board of Governors and local public safety officials he said they have decided to close campus on Monday, Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse.

“Some essential functions of the University will still be in operation, and previously planned private events will go on as scheduled. Please check with your supervisor to confirm whether you will need to be on campus that day,” Vartabedian said.

He said because campus will be close on Aug. 21, the General Opening Session for the year will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 9 a.m. in the Fulkerson Center.

Utility crews and St. Joseph police responded Wednesday after a cable-TV cable came down blocking two ramps at I-29 and Frederick.

The southbound I-29 ramp onto Frederick, and the ramp from Frederick to northbound I-29, were blocked.

Officers had removed the cable by about 2:20 pm. At the scene, reporter Nadia Thacker said traffic in the northbound lanes of the interstate were backed up, as was traffic on Frederick.

The Region H Hazmat team recently moved from its Frederick location. 

Buchanan County Emergency Management Director Bill Brinton said after more than 11 years at 4950 Frederick Ave., Mosaic Life Care, the owner of the building, began reevaluating property uses. Brinton said after discussion with the Buchanan County commissioners, it was decided to move the Hazmat Team to a new facility in the south end on West Colorado Street. 

“This building is in excellent shape, it’s one of those things, we’re in the process of doing renovations now, very minor ones, and there’s plenty of space to grow,” Brinton said. “With our relationship with Buchanan County EMS, it’s just a positive thing for the whole community, it doesn’t increase our response time, it’s right by 229, right by 36 Highway.” 

Brinton said Buchanan County EMS will be sharing the building. Renovations are underway in the building and will include a classroom with electronic equipment that local agencies can use for training.

15-year-old Dylan Golden got a chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer Tuesday in St. Joseph with the help of local law enforcement officials.

“About 10 years,” Dylan said.

That’s how long he said he’s wanted to be a law enforcement officer.

Dylan was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome and battles a number of problems related to the disease. Retiring St. Joseph School District Principal, Mike Otto said he first met Dylan when he was attending school at Oak Grove Elementary. Dylan is now attending home school because of his condition.

“I followed him ever since he left elementary school and he’s got a lot of challenges in life. He always talked about police. He wanted to be a police officer” Otto said. “I called my good friend Joe Herrera who’s an SRO (School Resource Officer) with the district and Joe took it from there.”

Officer Devin Kallauner with the St. Joseph Police Department took his patrol car over to meet Dylan Tuesday afternoon at Oak Grove Elementary. Dylan was unaware of the activities planned for the day at the time. Kallauner said when the officers learned about Dylan several weeks ago, they got together to try to figure out what they could do.

“We put our resources together and came up with what we did today,” Kallauner said. “I took him for a ride. We were going to Word of Life, he didn’t know what all was here. We pulled in and when he saw all the squad cars and people in uniform and the BearCat he got really excited.”

Law Enforcement Officers from the St. Joseph Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Special Response Team, School Resource Officers, Traffic Unit and others came out to participate in the event at the Word of Life Church parking lot. Dylan was made an honorary officer by Police Chief Chris Connally, he was bestowed with uniform shirts from both the police department and sheriff’s department with his name on them, took a ride in the BearCat (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck), and got a chance to sit on a police motorcycle with the sirens blasting.

Dylan said his favorite part about being an officer is, “Chasing the bad guys.”

In response to the surprise Dylan said he wanted to thank the officers.

“Thank you,” he said. “I enjoyed it a lot.”