A very dangerous situation was diffused, thanks to the work of multiple law enforcement agencies across three counties. Yesterday afternoon, April 9th, about 2:50, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a car on I-35, near mile marker 195, for speeding. Deputies suspected drugs in the car and removed the driver for questioning. However, the passenger moved to the driver’s’ seat, locked the doors and sped off. Deputies pursued and during the chase, the suspect opened fire on the pursuing deputies at least twice.
The suspect crashed his vehicle near Moonlight Road in Gardner, and fled on foot into the woods.
A search was conducted and with the assistance from units from the Johnson and Miami CountySheriff’sdepartment, Shawnee, Olathe, Ottawa and Gardner Police and the highway Patrol, multiple K-9 units, drones and Highway Patrol aircraft. Schools were temporarily locked down in the Gardner area and I-35 was shut down in both directions during the search.
The suspect was found by a K-9 officer and taken into custody. At this time, that man, has not been positively identified. The driver of the vehicle was 55-year-old Frank Rinderknecht, from Hiawatha, Iowa. A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of drugs and a firearm. Formal charges are pending in Franklin County.
Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards says there were no injuries reported and he is thankful for the cooperation of so many law enforcement agencies to bring the incident to a safe close. I-35 reopened about 6:00 last night.
