Sunday, February 21, 2021

Police Activity Report

On February 18th, at approx. 5:00 pm, officers took a robbery report that happened in the 6600 block of Raytown Rd. The victim said he had just left a business in that area and was walking home when he was approached by a stranger who threatened him with a gun and demanded his money. The victim wasn’t hurt, and the investigation is ongoing.

We took one report this week regarding a sex crime. It occurred at a residence in Raytown between two people who know each other. The investigation is ongoing.


Raytown Records Fourth Homicide of 2021

A 24-year-old woman has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man in Raytown, according to police.


    Daizhane Redmond, of Independence, has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of Michael Wright by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

 

The killing marks Raytown’s fourth homicide this year. There were three homicides in Raytown in all of 2020. About 15 minutes earlier, Wright called dispatch’s non-emergency number and said he expected a disturbance soon because his ex-girlfriend was on her way over to drop off his vehicle.


He is told police he was not going to give her a ride back but would hail her a ride. About two minutes before officers were sent to the apartments, dispatch received a call from Wright, who whispered that “she has a gun” and “she’s trying to kill me.”


Information for this story was originally published on February 24, 2021 by The Kansas City Star. The story was originally written by Luke Nozicka. To view the story in its entirely use the following link: 


 Raytown Homocide / Valencia



Covid19 Vaccination Distribution Locations

There are many people in the Kansas City area who are patiently waiting to receive the Covid19 Vaccine. The following list is of providers in Missouri along with telephone numbers, web and email addresses.


The list originated with the State of Missouri. It is believed to be up to date with correct contact information. The list is also subject to change as new distribution locations are created. Please check back for updates.


Missouri Vaccine Registration

Eligible Missourians can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine through Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and select HyVee locations across the state. 

Use this link to locate Vaccine Providers in Missouri: State of Missouri’s Vaccine Locator

. . . Our response to a recent blog . . .

BY GREG WALTERS

Every now and then we get a post on the blog portion of the Raytown Report appears to have been written by someone with an agenda. The following post, copied here, reads like it was written for a Facebook page. It asks questions that read like accusations. The writer tries to create a false narrative, couching the words as if he has written down a truth everyone already knows. 

The following will set the record straight. 

Awaiting moderation

Unknown commented on "(Untitled)"

Feb 21, 2021

Why is someone from WY County telling us in Raytown what we should be doing? Why is it this meeting was not better advertised? Why does a small select group believe the only crime is at one park?

Since we are quite certain this same type of poison has been published elsewhere, we decided to answer it. Normally we delete trash like the above comment because it is based upon lies and has only one intent. That intent is to defame and belittle another.

Khadijah Hardaway is not from Wyandotte County. She lives in Raytown. The back yard of her home backs up to the park. Like all the other neighbors up and down Lane Street (which passes through Colman Park) she has seen the aftermath of murders, shootings, fights, drug dealing and other nefarious activity in Colman Park.

She and her husband have raised three daughters who attended Raytown schools. They have lived in Raytown for ten years.

She has stepped up to try to help organize the Park Dell and Village Green neighborhoods to work with the Police and the Raytown Parks Department to bring solutions to the table.

Ms. She is very good at organizing and leading efforts to correct injustice and fight crime. One of the areas she has worked is Wyandotte County. We are lucky to have expertise in Raytown.

Most of the people attending the meeting live around Colman Park. It was meant to be a neighborhood meeting. We did not print fliers and go door to door because of the Covid19  Pandemic. The meeting held was a ZOOM Meeting. It was the first of what we hope will be a continuing and growing number of participants. We have decided to announce future meetings on the Raytown Report.

The following reply should satisfy a number of items the blogger is confused about.

Why does a small select group believe the crime is only in one park?

We are well aware crime is a problem in Raytown. What is unique about the crimes at Colman Park is that in the last 1.5 years there have been two murders, a teenager shot, and numerous violations involving reckless and dangerous gunfire.

Other parks were discussed at the meeting. It was made very clear at the meeting the requests for changes and improvements to Colman Park should be considered for all parks. In fact, some of those changes have already been completed.

Kenagy Park has improved lighting. Kenagy Park also has speed humps built into its parking lot to dissuade idiots who think it is fun to cut donuts with their cars in a neighborhood park. The extended months of patrols by private security service is a benefit that will be used in all other Raytown Parks.

We are impressed by the rapid response by Parks and Recreation and the Police Department. As these facts show, these changes will benefit all Raytown Parks.

What has been accomplished?

  • New lights have been installed at Colman Park doubling the illumination in the park.
  • Signage has been ordered clearly stating stating park rules.
  • Four additional cameras are on order. The cameras will have feeds to Raytown Police Department dispatchers.
  • A security gate has been ordered to block off the area between the Parks maintenance barn and the park trash dumpsters. This area will remain blocked off indefintely.
  • Private security will be used to patrol ALL parks during curfew hours beginning March 1, 2021 and the Fall of 2021.
  • The city is considering placing speed humps at Colman Park, similar to those already in  use at Kenagy Park.

TIMELINE: All of these projects (with the exception of the speed humps) will be completed by March 31, 2021.


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BY GREG WALTERS

Pants on Fire!

Former Raytown Alderman Steve Meyers was fond of referring to pronouncements by elected officials that were less than honest as a "Liar, Liar. Pants on Fire!" moment. 

It appears his quaint saying is appropriate for what happened at last Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting. 

The Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission (a citizen appointed body) has had a number of resignations. Only five members were left of the nine member Commission.

The five seats are significant because it is the minimum required to create a quorum to hold a meeting of the Commission. This is a cause for concern, Missouri State Statutes require a Planning and Zoning Commission to review applications for commercial development of property in Raytown. Without the Commission, the process used to vet new applicants for business licenses would grind to halt.

This is not a new problem, the Planning and Zoning Commission lost a number of member in the summer of 2020. I happened to be in attendance at a meeting last summer when the Planning and Zoning Commission addressed the need to find new members to fill the vacancies.

It just so happened I knew two individuals in Raytown who had the qualifications to fill the vacancies on the Commission. They had previously expressed their desire to serve their city on one of the citizen Boards or Committees in Raytown. I told the two ladies, Mindy McDaniel and Jayne Loulos, of the vacancies on the Commission. They later informed me they had both applied for one of the four vacancies.  

I do know both McDaniel and Loulos had formally submitted their applications to the Mayor. Both of them were interviewed personally by the Mayor. In fact, Loulos told us the Mayor told her “. . . he had a stack of applicants for the Planning and Zoning Commission.”

I have since learned there was a third applicant who also specifically asked for a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission as well. Her name is Wendy McDermott.

The Mayor did appoint two of the ladies . . . but not to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

McDermott was appointed to the Jackson County Board of Equalization. McDaniel was appointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Loulos has since filed for an open seat on the Raytown Board of Aldermen.

Missouri State Statutes allow for one member of the Board of Aldermen to hold a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Ward 3 Alderman Janet Emerson holds that position.

Despite the very clear language in Missouri Statutes, the Mayor chose to appoint another Alderman to the Planning and Zoning Commission. That person is Ward 1 Alderman Frank Hunt.

As I expressed at the meeting, I believe Mr. Hunt would make a good choice for the position, however, since state statutes allow only one member to the Commission, the appointment could not be legally made. Given the history of vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the knowledge of qualified candidates available since last Summer, I thought it would be best to follow state law.  

The Mayor then claimed he had not received any applications for the position. That is simply not true. In fact, there is documented evidence of the applications.

Mr. Hunt will no longer have a seat on the Board of Aldermen once a new Board is sworn into office in early May, 2021. At that time it would be appropriate to appoint him to the position. But not before. Keep in mind there are four vacancies waiting to be filled.

However, the majority of the Board did not see it that way.

The final vote was 7 yes, 1 absent, and 2 abstentions. Mr. Aziere was unable to attend the meeting. Alderman Hunt abstained since it would be inappropriate to vote for himself. I abstained because I know there were other qualified candidates available.

Raytown is a statutory city. That means we are governed by the statutes of the State of Missouri. Therefore, the appointment is contrary to Missouri State Law. All Missouri office holders take an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Missouri and (in this case) the City of Raytown. I take that oath seriously.   

As for the Mayor’s faulty memory . . . Mr. Meyers probably said it best. This may very well have been a classic "Pants on Fire" moment at the Board of Aldermen meeting last Tuesday night.


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR . . .

Last week’s story in the Raytown Report regarding $880,000 in renovations at Raytown City Hall drew some fire from Mayor McDonough at last Tuesday’s meeting. He said something to the effect the story in the Raytown Report was not true.

The portion he was referring to in last week's Raytown Report is repeated here.

“The $880,000 of renovations includes Kevlar lining in the Board of Aldermen dias, strong enough to stop bullets. The entrance way to City Hall is being strengthened by adding obstacles to make it impossible for a vehicle of any sort to breach he city’s main entrance.”

The Raytown Report stands by our story. The votes taken approving the expenditure of funds is a matter of public record.

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