Wichita man sentenced for running over police officer’s foot during welfare check
A Wichita man will serve six years, two months in prison for running over the foot of a police officer checking his welfare after a resident saw him passed out in a truck.
Nicholas G. Shugart, 42, pleaded guilty on March 6 to aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, driving under the influence and other charges tied to injuries suffered by Wichita police officer Jared Thomas on Aug. 24, 2023. The officer’s injuries included a broken toe, a sprained ankle and soft tissue damage.
Shugart was sentenced Wednesday by Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush to a total of 17 years in prison in five different cases where he was accused of several crimes including drug possession and distribution, battering jail deputies, violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act and illegally possessing weapons. A little more than six of the 17 years is connected to the case where he ran over the officer’s foot.
Court records say Thomas and another officer found Shugart and a woman in a Chevrolet Silverado after a resident in the 600 block of West 30th Street South called 911, saying they were unconscious. After Thomas woke Shugart up and asked for his identification, Shugart started the truck and sped off, running over Thomas’ foot as he fled.
Shugart hit another vehicle, causing minor injuries to its driver, during the ensuing chase, police have said.
After his arrest, Shugart admitted he was addicted to fentanyl, but he couldn’t recall when he last used the drug because he didn’t know what day it was, a probable cause affidavit says.
He showed signs of intoxication throughout his interactions with law enforcement, including “slipping in and out of consciousness” and failing sobriety exercises, according to the affidavit. Police found a loaded gun, drugs and drug paraphernalia in the truck, the affidavit says.
