No charges for Wichita cop who killed fleeing bank robber in 2020, Sedgwick County DA says
The Wichita police officer who killed a bank robber fleeing from authorities in a stolen truck down a busy city street on Dec. 21, 2020, will not face criminal charges, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett announced Thursday.
The officer, who has not been publicly identified, had nearly 10 years of policing experience and believed members of the public and a fellow officer were in danger when he fired, according to a report from Bennett’s office.
“The officer’s explanation ... is supported by the facts,” Bennett said in the report. “Under these circumstances, (the) officer is immune from prosecution under Kansas law.”
Paul Peraza, 50, was hit by three of the officer’s four gunshots following a chase after the Golden Plains Credit Union, 9555 E. Corporate Hills, was robbed around 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Bennett said Thursday that credit union employees reported that Peraza had entered the building that day, went behind the counter, pushed his way past tellers and took cash out of drawers. Peraza fled in a Toyota Tundra that the officer who eventually shot him spotted driving north on Webb and began pursuing.
Bennett said Peraza sped off when the cop started tailing him, prompting a chase that reached nearly 80 mph in congested afternoon traffic. During the pursuit, Peraza weaved in and out of traffic, crossed into southbound Webb and hit a car waiting to turn at 13th and Webb, Bennett said.
He backed into the pursuing officer’s patrol car after the collision, ignored the officer’s shouts for him to “stop,” hit another parked car and endangered a second officer that had arrived to provide back up, Bennett said.
“There was a risk both to the other drivers by Mr. Peraza as well as the other officer,” Bennett said.
The first officer fired his duty weapon four times through the window of the rear driver-side door. Three of the bullets struck Peraza in his neck and body; the fourth struck the truck’s driver-side door frame.
He died at the scene, according to an earlier Eagle report.
An autopsy report released last month says Peraza died from the gunshot wounds. His body also tested positive for alcohol and a number of illegal narcotics including fentanyl and methamphetamine, Bennett said.
At the time of his killing, Peraza had prior convictions for bank robberies in California and Oklahoma, was wanted on a federal probation warrant and had recently been arrested by Wichita police on suspicion of crimes including being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing illegal weapons, auto theft and drug-related charges, the Eagle previously reported.
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 12:07 PM.
