Kevin Hanten

*Updated - On December 14th, 2020, a man who identified himself as James Weiss Jr., was taken into custody following a four-and-a-half-hour manhunt near Lowell, Kansas.  Since that time, authorities with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has determined the actual identity of the suspect as Kevin Lee Hanten, who now, in addition to facing additional charges of obstructing justice, is also being held on outstanding felony warrants from the State of Missouri.*

Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office responded to the burglary of a home in Lowell at 11:32 Monday morning.  As law enforcement was speaking with the property owner, two suspects returned to the home.  Realizing a deputy was inside, they then fled to a nearby wooded area.

Law enforcement with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Baxter Springs Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol established a perimeter while K9 teams with the Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol searched the area.

"Once the perimeter was established, we requested an aircraft from the Highway Patrol and a plane was deployed out of Wichita to assist with searching from the air," according to Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves.

Just after 4:00 p.m. one of the suspects was discovered burrowed under a thick briar patch and taken into custody.

James Anthony Weiss Jr., 42, of Joplin, is being held in the Cherokee County Jail on allegations of Aggravated Residential Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage to Property and Interference with Law Enforcement.

"We are appreciative of the assistance provided by our partner agencies, which contributed to this capture of this suspect.  As the investigation continues, we anticipate the filing of formal charges on the second suspect, as well," concluded Sheriff Groves.