Miami County Undersheriff Mark Schmidt watches an armed standoff Monday morning near the intersection of 327th Street and U.S. Highway 169 while receiving updates on his cell phone. The suspect eventually surrendered peacefully. (Photo by Brian McCauley / bmccauley@miconews.com)
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‘Road rage’ leads to arrest
Paola man taken into custody after armed standoff
By Brian McCauley And Dustin Kass, Staff Wwiters
A 42-year-old Paola man was peacefully taken into custody Monday following an early-morning “road rage” incident with his estranged wife that turned into an armed standoff just east of Paola, near the intersection of 327th Street and U.S. Highway 169.
Chad R. Crandell was booked into the Miami County Jail on Monday for alleged aggravated battery and stalking with a restraining order or injunction in place. He was held without bond.
Miami County Attorney David Miller said charges likely soon would be filed against Crandell, but none were on record at press time.
Crandell’s wife, Stephanie, filed a petition for divorce and a restraining order against her husband Aug. 11, according to court records.
Crandell allegedly violated the restraining order, and he was booked into jail Aug. 20. He posted a $2,500 bond and was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 4 for his first appearance.
At about 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, a man, whom sheriff’s officials later confirmed was Chad Crandell, allegedly used his white Ford F-150 pickup truck to repeatedly ram a Jeep driven by a woman, later identified as Stephanie Crandell, as the two vehicles raced up Cedar Niles Road toward 327th Street, said Will Johns of Osawatomie, who witnessed the series of events as he was driving to work. Johns said the Jeep rapidly turned right at the stop sign and on to 327th, with the pickup veering through the right-hand ditch, around the sign, and back onto the road to strike the Jeep again. As the vehicle driven by Stephanie Crandell tried to turn onto the on-ramp, the pickup crashed into her again, Johns said, flipping the vehicle onto its side.
Johns said Chad Crandell then rushed from the pickup and toward the overturned vehicle. The witness said Chad Crandell appeared to smash a window of the Jeep and shortly thereafter pulled out some type of small-caliber handgun.
Johns said the first sheriff’s office patrol car arrived just a short time later. Local officers rapidly converged on the intersection, shielded by their vehicles with their guns drawn, while Chad Crandell remained near the overturned Jeep.
Stephanie Crandell was out of the vehicle when sheriff’s officers arrived and was removed from the scene, officials said. She was uninjured.
Two sheriff’s office sports utility vehicles carrying five men, four in full tactical gear, arrived at the scene at 9:15 a.m., and Chad Crandell surrendered to the team without injuries about an hour later.
Members of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Paola and Osawatomie police departments, Kansas Highway Patrol and Miami County Emergency Medical Services all responded to the scene.
The Rev. Roy Rhodes of Paola Cross Point Assembly of God Church also was at the scene. Rhodes said the Crandells were members of the congregation, but he declined to comment further.
An update on the case will be reported in The Miami County Weekend edition Friday.
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Chad R. Crandell was booked into the Miami County Jail on Monday for alleged aggravated battery and stalking with a restraining order or injunction in place. He was held without bond.
Miami County Attorney David Miller said charges likely soon would be filed against Crandell, but none were on record at press time.
Crandell’s wife, Stephanie, filed a petition for divorce and a restraining order against her husband Aug. 11, according to court records.
Crandell allegedly violated the restraining order, and he was booked into jail Aug. 20. He posted a $2,500 bond and was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 4 for his first appearance.
At about 7:45 a.m. Monday morning, a man, whom sheriff’s officials later confirmed was Chad Crandell, allegedly used his white Ford F-150 pickup truck to repeatedly ram a Jeep driven by a woman, later identified as Stephanie Crandell, as the two vehicles raced up Cedar Niles Road toward 327th Street, said Will Johns of Osawatomie, who witnessed the series of events as he was driving to work. Johns said the Jeep rapidly turned right at the stop sign and on to 327th, with the pickup veering through the right-hand ditch, around the sign, and back onto the road to strike the Jeep again. As the vehicle driven by Stephanie Crandell tried to turn onto the on-ramp, the pickup crashed into her again, Johns said, flipping the vehicle onto its side.
Johns said Chad Crandell then rushed from the pickup and toward the overturned vehicle. The witness said Chad Crandell appeared to smash a window of the Jeep and shortly thereafter pulled out some type of small-caliber handgun.
Johns said the first sheriff’s office patrol car arrived just a short time later. Local officers rapidly converged on the intersection, shielded by their vehicles with their guns drawn, while Chad Crandell remained near the overturned Jeep.
Stephanie Crandell was out of the vehicle when sheriff’s officers arrived and was removed from the scene, officials said. She was uninjured.
Two sheriff’s office sports utility vehicles carrying five men, four in full tactical gear, arrived at the scene at 9:15 a.m., and Chad Crandell surrendered to the team without injuries about an hour later.
Members of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, Paola and Osawatomie police departments, Kansas Highway Patrol and Miami County Emergency Medical Services all responded to the scene.
The Rev. Roy Rhodes of Paola Cross Point Assembly of God Church also was at the scene. Rhodes said the Crandells were members of the congregation, but he declined to comment further.
An update on the case will be reported in The Miami County Weekend edition Friday.