The St. Joseph Animal Shelter saw around a dozen adoptions this week, helping free up space in its packed facility.

We first learned Tuesday, from Jenna Keyes, Animal Control and Rescue Humane Educator, that the 45 to 50 kennel shelter was at capacity with 38 dogs in the main kennel and 15 cats in the small animal room. She said shelter policy requires at least seven kennels to be open at all times.  So in an effort to prevent the need to euthanize animals, the Friends of the Animal Shelter offered half-price adoptions deals through Wednesday.

After we ran the story on St. Joseph Post, it was shared more than 800 times on Facebook.  Since then, five dogs and seven cats have been adopted. Keyes said two dogs were also transferred to an animal rescue facility in Kansas City, so the count at the shelter is now 27 dogs and 11 cats.

She said because of the recent adoptions there are enough open kennels now in the facility so euthanasia will not have to happen at this time.  However, Keyes said adopters are always needed.

To learn more about adopting a pet from the St. Joseph Animal Shelter or volunteering CLICK HERE.

 

A man has been arrested after the St. Joseph Police Department responded to a call of shots fired Wednesday night.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said shortly before 9 p.m. officers responded to the area of Cottonwood Creek apartments located at 3601 Gene Field Rd. He said witnesses said a couple of individuals were driving around in a car, one reportedly shooting a weapon in the air several times.

When officers arrived on scene they recovered shell casings. After investigating a 21-year-old St. Joseph resident was arrested.

Wilson said the case is being submitted to the Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of charges.

Two men have been taken into custody after a law enforcement chase and manhunt overnight in Harrison County.

Sgt. Jake Angle with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said shortly before 8 p.m. a trooper made a traffic stop on I-35 southbound around the 95 mile marker.

“During the course of the traffic stop another trooper arrived on scene.  Both troopers attempted to take two subjects into custody out of the vehicle they had stopped.  At which point one subject was taken into custody the other subject was able to get away from the troopers and fled on foot,” Angle said. “The suspect was able to make it back to his vehicle and started to drive southbound.”

Angle said at that point the trooper fired his gun at the man who got away and a vehicle pursuit began.  The vehicle was later found abandoned along a roadway just off of Interstate 35.

“At which time the highway patrol issued a manhunt for that subject,” Angle said.

Shortly after 1:15 Thursday morning the subject was taken into custody at a warehouse located at the intersection of I-35 and U.S. 136.

Angle said no injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing.

St. Joseph police are hoping you can help them find a person of interest identified as Gregory Allen Hayes. In a news release, officials said investigators identified Hayes as a person of interest in the home invasion on Monday morning in the 700 block of South 13th Street in which a victim was shot.

Police say this investigation is connected with a series of other home invasions that occurred in the late hours of 08-14-16 and morning hours of 08-15-16.

An additional suspect identified as Jabin Bullock was arrested on 08-15-16. Bullock was charged with 1st Degree Burglary on 08-16-16. (Click here)

The investigation into all of these incidents is continuing and additional suspects may be identified as it progresses, according to the news release.

Mr. Hayes has not been located as of yet. If you have information as to his location, please contact St Joseph police, or Detective Rick Woodley at 271-4795.  Hayes is 26 years old, approx.. 5’8” and 135 lbs. He is possibly armed and should be considered dangerous.

On 08-16-16, members of SJPD and BCSD served a warrant in the 900 block of Corby St. in connection with this investigation and other crimes. At that location, a 16 year old juvenile was arrested who is believed to be involved in multiple incidents. His name cant be released but he is currently in custody with the juvenile office.

A St. Joseph man has been charged after a series of home invasions around town earlier this week that prompted police responses.

20-year-old Jabin Bullock is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for first-degree burglary.

According to court documents, on Monday at a home in St. Joseph two men forced entry into a home and stole items after displaying a firearm to the victim.

“The victim identified this defendant from a photo lineup as being one of the two males involved,” said Det. Doug Howard with the St. Joseph Police Department. “A search warrant was executed in St. Joseph, MO where items stolen during the robbery were recovered.”

Howard said Bullock has prior arrests for robbery and assault.

Since Sunday night, authorities have said there have been four home invasions and a fifth situation that took place Monday evening at a home on S 16th where Bullock was allegedly taken into custody.  Capt. Jeff Wilson has previously told us the home invasions are not believed to be random at this time.

Police also arrested a juvenile Tuesday afternoon at a home in the 900 block of Corby in connection with the recent events.  As of 10 a.m. Wednesday morning the Juvenile Office said a case has not been submitted.  Also, Wednesday morning Capt. Wilson said a third person of interest is still being sought.  He said police may send out additional details later in the day.

Bullock is being held without bail.  An arraignment is set for Friday.

Half-price adoptions are being offered in an effort to find homes for pets at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter which is at capacity. 

Animal Shelter Humane Educator Jenna Keyes said they usually work with local rescue organizations in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska but those places are also full at this time. 

The shelter has 45 to 50 available kennels and, as of Tuesday morning, the shelter had 38 dogs in the main kennel and 14 dogs in the Puppies for Parole program. According to Keyes, they are required to have seven open kennels at all times. In the small animal room, there are 15 cats in the 22 cage room.

Keyes said every year at this time, a lot more animals tend to come into the shelter due to a lot of strays, owner relinquishes and Puppy Parole graduates coming back to await adoption and they approach or reach capacity. 

“Around Fourth of July until the start of school is usually kind of our scramble, trying our hardest to get these dogs out and get them adopted or into rescue and cats as well, getting them adopted,” Keyes said. “When it turns to fall, gets a little cooler, animals stop traveling as much, people aren’t outside as much so we don’t see as many of those animals coming in, but that tends to be the yearly flow: busy in the summer and pretty slow in the winter.” 

The Friends of the Animal Shelter saw the need and extended a half-price adoption deal through Wednesday to help get animals adopted out instead of having to consider euthanizing adoptable animals. 

“Luckily, we haven’t gotten to a point where we had to decide to euthanize that day,” Keyes said. “The past couple of weeks have been rough just because everywhere has been in the same situation as we are and they’ve been very full as well. But thankfully it looks like this week we might get a few dogs into rescue organizations as well as all the great adoptions from this half price event so we’re definitely getting in a better position.” 

The Friends of the Animal Shelter is offering half-price adoptions through Wednesday at the shelter, Petco and Petsmart. For more information, go to the Friends of the Animal Shelter Facebook page or call the shelter at (816) 271-4877.

The St. Joseph Police Department said two suspects are in custody and a third is being sought as a person of interest after five situations around town that prompted police responses in the past 36 hours.

Capt. Jeff Wilson said police are investigating a series of four home invasions since Sunday evening and a fifth situation that took place Monday evening at a home in the area of 16th and Olive where a man was arrested.

Two suspects, a 20-year-old and a juvenile have since been taken into custody in connection with the incidents. A third person of interest is currently being sought by police.

“They started off Sunday evening around 11 o’clock,” Wilson said. “We received a call of a home invasion in the area of Highland Meadows.  During that incident a couple of subjects entered the residences and assaulted the occupants there resulting in minor injuries.”

Then shortly after 1 a.m. Monday another home invasion was reported in the 6600 block of Washington.  The individuals were reported to have been armed with weapons and demanded items from the residents inside.

Around 8 a.m. Monday officers responded to the 800 block of Park Lane for another home invasion. Weapons and other items were reported stolen during that incident.

Shortly after, another call of a home invasion was reported on S 13th St. During that home invasion a man was shot several times and transported for treatment of what police described as non life-threatening injuries.  Wilson said the victim is believed to be recovering at this time.

Wilson said a man reported being shot Monday while walking down the street in the midtown area and hit in the buttocks during crossfire between two vehicles.

“The particulars as to how he was shot at this time remain questionable,” Wilson said. “He is in our custody at this time.”

A fifth incident at a home in the 900 block of S 16th was reported Monday night around 7 p.m. where the 20-year-old St. Joseph man who claimed to have been shot during the crossfire was arrested in connection with the series of home invasions.

“This was not a home invasion per se, we believe that these individuals were there to see somebody else and were maybe even possibly invited there but there was several subjects there and one of them was reported to be armed with some weapons,” Wilson said. “A resident there had left their home and went to the neighbor’s home and reported that several individuals had walked into their home and were armed with weapons.”

Tuesday afternoon around 12:30 police surrounded a home in the 900 block of Corby where a 16-year-old not from St. Joseph was taken into custody in connection with the home invasions.

Police are currently searching for a third person of interest in the case. Wilson said at this point in the investigation authorities don’t believe the home invasions are random, nor is there a motive that is being released.

 

 

Police took one man into custody after a disturbance Monday night in midtown.

Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said around 7 p.m. officers responded to the 900 block of S. 16th.

“Some of the people that live in the house came out and went to the neighbor’s house and said call the police one of the individuals has guns,” Wilson said.

Wilson said some of the individuals in the home were believed to be connected to incidents that took place earlier in the day around St. Joseph that led to  police responses.

Authorities blocked off roads in the area for about 45 minutes. Three men surrendered to authorities. Wilson said a 20-year-old man was arrested and several guns were seized. The investigation continues.

A press conference it scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to talk about situations that took place around St. Joseph yesterday that prompted police responses.  However, in-depth details are not expected as Wilson said it’s an ongoing investigation.