The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, or KBI, has arrested a former Lawrence Police Officer for alleged sexual assault. The KBI says the Lawrence Police Department requested its assistance last November, after receiving a report from a woman who claimed a Lawrence Police Officer, 41 year old Johnathan Gardner, of Tonganoxie, had sexually assaulted her while he was on duty. The crime is believed to have occurred in January 2017. KBI agents initiated an investigation. Soon after, Gardner was fired from his position.
Yesterday morning, KBI agents arrested Gardner, with the assistance of the Kansas Highway Patrol. The KBI says Gardner was arrested on charges of rape, 12 counts of unlawful acts concerning computers and 12 counts of official misconduct. The charges of official misconduct and unlawful acts with computers claim Gardner committed illegal and unauthorized searches of the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System, as well as Internal Police Department Public Safety Systems between 2017 and 2020. After his arrest, Gardner was booked into the Leavenworth County Jail. He was issued a $50,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing. The Douglas County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.
