Independence Community Awareness

05/29/2026

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with locating a missing juvenile. If you have any information on the whereabouts, please contact our office at the phone number listed.

05/29/2026

Grain Valley Police are trying to locate Ryan D. Flake, a 44-year-old white male who resides in Jackson County north of Grain Valley, and is currently wanted on felony warrants and other criminal charges.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, during the late afternoon hours, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office attempted to arrest Flake. During the encounter, Flake fled on foot into the Rosewood neighborhood, prompting a coordinated response from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Grain Valley Police Department, Oak Grove Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Investigators say no additional crimes were reported during the foot pursuit, and there is no known threat to the community at this time. However, Flake remains a fugitive, and law enforcement agencies continue efforts to locate him.

Flake was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black pants, and tan boots. He is described as:
• 5 feet 10 inches tall
• Approximately 175 pounds
• Blue eyes
• Blonde hair

They ask that if you see Ryan Flake or know his whereabouts, do not approach him. Call 911 immediately and provide any information to respond law enforcement officers.

For non-emergency reporting, contact Jackson County Dispatch at (816) 795-1960.

05/29/2026

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Looking for something to do on a rainy day. Come visit the Vaile Mansion in Independence MO. We’re open Thursday Friday and Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm

05/28/2026

Team recognized as recipient of the 2026 Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp Memorial Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Honorable R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the 2026 Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Kansas City (FBI-KC) Transnational Organized Crime Squad and the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) Drug Investigation Squad.

The award is presented annually to honor the memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, both of whom were fatal victims of tragic crimes.

U.S. Attorney Price presented the award during a ceremony held in the Western District. The honorees spearhead a task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that work to combat the opioid crisis and address the growing number of fentanyl overdose deaths in the greater Kansas City area. The task force is led by FBI Special Agent Ellen Judy and Supervisory Special Agent Joseph Michael from the FBI Transnational Organized Crime Squad; and Detective (Retired) Cory Horalek and Sergeant Aaron Benson from the KCPD-Drug Investigation Squad-1820 Squad.

Additional law enforcement partners include the Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Border Patrol; Missouri State Highway Patrol; Jackson County Drug Task Force; Platte County Sheriff’s Office; Clay County Sheriff’s Office; and many other state and local organizations.

The team led an investigation of a wide-ranging drug trafficking organization in which several defendants sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, to drug users on social media. The organization’s actions led to the death of a 17-year-old Olathe, Kansas girl.

The initial investigation resulted in charges and successful prosecutions against 13 defendants and led to other investigations resulting in charges against at least 14 additional defendants. The conspiracy involved a large quantity of drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, powder co***ne, and ma*****na, with an estimated value of more than $4 million. In addition, 16 fi****ms and approximately $40,000 were seized during the investigation. The work of the task force led to a significant decrease in overdose deaths in the Western District of Missouri.

U.S. Attorney Price presented the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award alongside Anna Kipper Rea, the mother of Crystal Kipper, and Jill and Bob Leiker of the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, an organization founded by the late Roger Kemp, the father of Ali Kemp.


The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award


This is the 22nd year the award has been presented in memory of Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, two young women who were both fatal victims of tragic crimes. Crystal Kipper was an 18-year-old Gladstone, Mo., resident who was murdered after she ran out of gas on Interstate 29, just north of Platte City, on Feb. 24, 1997. Ali Kemp was a 19-year-old Blue Valley North High School graduate who was murdered on June 18, 2002, while she worked at the Foxborough neighborhood swimming pool in Leawood, Kan.


The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award is presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri each year to recognize the outstanding work of an individual or organization in recognition of a valued contribution to preventing and responding to violent crime and the exploitation of children.

05/27/2026

Huey Magoo's is expanding and coming to the Kansas City area. The first location is expected to open at the old Lion's Choice on Little Blue Parkway in September. The chain is known for its Filet Mignon of Chicken tenders, and also offers Grilled Chicken Bites with dips and sides as part of a sandwich, wrap, or salad.

05/27/2026

Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, provides the following preliminary statistics related to the Memorial Day holiday:

Eight people died and 99 were injured in 234 traffic crashes during the 2026 Memorial Day holiday counting period, which began at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026, and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 25, 2026.

2026 Memorial Day Holiday Traffic Statistics

Traffic Crashes — 234
Traffic Crash Injuries — 99
Traffic Crash Fatalities — 8
DWI — 107

Boating Statistics

Crashes — 4
Injuries — 6
Fatalities — 0
Drowning — 0
BWI — 7

During the 2025 Memorial Day holiday counting period the Patrol investigated 203 traffic crashes involving three fatalities and 92 injuries. Statewide, four people died and 356 were injured in 868 vehicle crashes in 2025. Three boating crashes were investigated throughout Missouri in 2025.

MSHP Reports Eight Traffic Fatalities, Zero Drownings, and Zero Boating Fatalities Over Memorial Day Holiday

Further details related to the traffic crashes and arrests can be found on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s website.

The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release is sent to the media.

05/27/2026

May 26, 2026
Update on Pleasant Hill Price Chopper Shooting Investigation

Pleasant Hill, MO — The Pleasant Hill Police Department continues to investigate the shooting that occurred on May 25, 2026, at the Price Chopper located at 2101 N. State Route 7 Highway in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged 27-year-old Allen Prince of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, in connection with the incident. Warrants have been issued for the following charges:
- First Degree Murder
- Three counts of Armed Criminal Action
- Two counts of First Degree Assault

Prince remains in custody with no bond and is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at a local hospital.
The deceased victim has been identified as 45-year-old Amy C**n of Strasburg, Missouri. Amy was a Pleasant Hill native and a 1999 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. She was a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend to many throughout the community.

A 16-year-old Pleasant Hill juvenile also sustained injuries during the incident and remains in stable condition at a local hospital.
Investigators have determined that two individuals in the parking lot who were legally armed confronted the suspect during the incident, at which time the suspect turned the firearm on himself.
The Pleasant Hill Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Cass County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional information will be released as needed.

05/27/2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in an armed assault against a member of a rival motorcycle club.

John J. Hahn, also known as “Krazy Legs,” 47, of Cameron, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to ten years in federal prison without parole for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Sept. 17, 2022, Hahn and 12 other members of the Pagan’s and their support club, the Los Valerosos, chased and forced a lone rival gang member from the road in Blue Springs, Mo. Various members of the Pagan’s and Los Valerosos were armed with fi****ms and at least one axe handle. Hahn, who was a member of the Los Valerosos at the time, and the others, confronted the victim on the side of the roadway and ultimately, the victim was shot seven times, with wounds to his knee, thigh, forearm, biceps, buttocks, and back of his leg. Following the shooting, Hahn received his Pagan’s patch signifying his membership.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

05/27/2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for distributing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug distribution conspiracy.

Derone D. Gipson, 44, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Gipson was on federal supervised release for a previous federal drug conviction when he committed these offenses and Judge Phillips sentenced Gipson to 24 months in prison for violating his supervised release. His 24-month sentence will be served consecutively with the 180 months for a total of 204 months.

According to court documents, between on or about April 27, 2022 and June 1, 2022, members of the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Gipson of 112 grams, 110 grams, and 110 grams respectively.

On June 8, 2022, law enforcement officials served a search warrant at the apartment from which Gipson performed the earlier methamphetamine sales. Gipson was arrested and he had $3,000 cash in his left pants pocket and $839 in cash in his right pants pocket. Officers also located a G***k 26, 9 mm handgun on a shelf under a coffee table in the living room that Gipson admitted was his.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. Foley and Joseph M. Marquez. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in executing the search warrant.

05/26/2026

Man Charged in February Independence Shooting

May 26, 2026

Press Release:

"Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson today announced charges against a certified juvenile in connection with a shooting that injured one person earlier this year in Independence, MO.

William A. Chaney faces 1st Degree Assault, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. * The defendant is a juvenile. Family Court certified him as an adult on May 21, and the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office filed criminal charges the same day.

According to court records, Independence police initiated a traffic stop of a silver Ford EcoSport on Feb. 22 near the intersection of US 40 Highway and South Sterling Avenue after an officer observed one of the rear passenger doors swing open.

Upon contact, the driver of the vehicle told the officer they had been shot at a gas station on Blue Ridge Boulevard. A male, later identified as the defendant, was sitting in the rear passenger seat and told officers he’d been shot. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Shortly thereafter, other officers pursued a Mercedes Benz 300 into Kansas City that had multiple apparent bullet holes in the vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped at a hospital. The victim was seated in the rear of the vehicle with several gunshot wounds and received treatment at the hospital.

Detectives responded to the gas station where the shooting occurred, and retrieved surveillance footage of the incident, which showed the silver Ford arriving and parking in front of the business entrance. The vehicle was occupied by multiple people, and the defendant was seated in the rear passenger-side seat.

The Mercedes arrived and parked on the passenger side of the Ford. A few minutes later, the defendant exited the rear seat holding a black firearm and fired multiple rounds toward the driver’s area of the Mercedes. Several rounds were fired in return from the Mercedes toward the defendant. Both vehicles then fled the scene.

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $150,000 cash only.

* Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty."