Attempted murder charges filed against 3 after Sept. 6 chase in west Wichita

Three people — two men and a woman — face attempted murder and other felony charges for firing shots at a Wichita police patrol car during a pursuit Sept. 6.

Tyler D. Deck, 28; Earl F. Crooks Jr., 33; and Josie K. Snodgrass, 34, made their first appearances in Sedgwick County District Court late last week, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office and court records. Their cases stem from a dispute that escalated into an exchange of gunfire at a west Wichita convenience store Sept. 6, then blossomed into a police chase and shots fired at officers after one of the gunmen — a 28-year-old man — fled in a vehicle in an attempt to avoid capture.

None of the officers were hurt, police said last week, but one of the bullets hit a light bar atop the patrol car.

Deck is charged with 11 counts, including attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, attempted kidnapping and possession of methamphetamine, records show. Crooks has four counts, including attempted first-degree murder and attempted kidnapping. Snodgrass also is accused of four counts, including attempted second-degree murder and meth possession.

Some of the counts are alternative charges.

All were given an initial preliminary hearing date of Sept. 25, but it’s likely the proceedings will be continued. They remained in jail over the weekend, records show, on bonds that range from $100,000 to $150,000 in the attempted murder case. Deck and Crooks also were being held in other cases, records show.

Police last week said bullets fired by the driver during the chase missed officers both near Eighth and Hoover, where a house was struck, and near Eighth and Flora.

The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle, spun out and crashed in the 5200 block of West 13th Street, police have said. The three people inside then ran into a residential neighborhood — the driver meanwhile firing more shots at officers — where they were apprehended.

Officers found handguns, ammunition and drugs in the car, according to police Lt. Todd Ojile.

Deck, Crooks and Snodgrass are all from Wichita, district attorney spokesman Dan Dillon said in an e-mail. On financial affidavits filed with the court, Deck said he is self-employed in construction and landscaping, lives with his mother and has three dependent children under the age of 10; Crooks said he was unemployed and listed no dependents; and Snodgrass said she worked at a Wichita grocery store and provided support for a 13-year-old son and two daughters, ages 10 and 12.

This story was originally published September 14, 2014 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Attempted murder charges filed against 3 after Sept. 6 chase in west Wichita."