Crime Stoppers is seeking information about an altercation that occurred Feb. 28 at 1305 MacArthur Road. Although they arrested Travis Myers, the adult son of Great Bend City Councilman Randy Myers, on suspicion of domestic battery of his brother Nathan, authorities said Thursday that they’d like to hear from anyone who may have seen people entering the house early that morning.
In a Crime Stoppers announcement released this week, Police Chief Dean Akings recaps the report:
"On Feb. 28 at 4:03 a.m., officers responded to a burglary in progress in progress in the 1300 block of MacArthur in Great Bend. When officers arrived they spoke to three males, one which was injured and bleeding. Two of the males stated three men entered the house (and) beat one of the residents.
"If you have information about this crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 792-1300 or our 24-hour number, 620-603-3277. Remember, we don’t want your name, just your information."
The front page of the incident report puts the time of the alleged crime at 3 a.m., and notes alcohol is suspected as a factor.
Akings said his department stands by the arrest of Travis Myers, because he told the arresting officer he had shoved his brother.
But Randy Myers said that doesn’t explain the crime reported, which is battery and criminal trespass.
He said Travis Myers was also knocked out by the intruders and kicked in the ribs. Nathan Myers, the man injured and bleeding, had been bitten on the nose and required medical attention, his father said. "There was blood all over. My oldest son gets arrested; the police just turned around."
Randy Myers notes there was a burglary in the same block last Saturday. Police reports show that on March 5, between 5:50 and 11:30 p.m., someone entered a house at 1309 MacArthur Road and took televisions, a Toshiba laptop computer and other items, with the property loss totaling $2,844.
Akings said police do not believe that burglary was in any way related to the events of Feb. 28.
Randy Myers said it’s possible the arrest was motivated by politics. "I think there’s an election coming up," said Myers, who is running for mayor.
Akings declined to respond to that suggestion. He said the domestic battery case against Travis Myers was forwarded to the Barton County Attorney’s Office. It could have gone to the Great Bend Municipal Court, with the city attorney prosecuting, but it was sent to the county because a relative of a city council member was involved.
It is not known if formal charges have been or will be filed. County Attorney Douglas Matthews did not return a call from the Tribune Thursday afternoon.
