Wichita man drew gun on cops who tried to arrest him for DV. He’s sentenced
A 44-year-old Wichita man who drew a gun on police who were at his home to arrest him for domestic violence has been sentenced to a year in prison on one count of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, court records show.
A probable cause affidavit says Jonathan Wesley Belt told officers “this is as far as you go” and reached for his waistband behind his back when one officer tried to grab him on May 13, 2024. Another Wichita police officer shot Belt three times to stop the threat, authorities said previously.
The affidavit says Belt told a detective after he’d been hospitalized for treatment of gunshot wounds to his abdomen, arm and groin that he had planned to die when he pulled the gun on police.
He also told the detective he used marijuana and methamphetamine and didn’t recall some of the night’s events “but knew he grabbed and drew his gun,” the affidavit says.
The shooting took place in the 1600 block of North Wood, near 13th and Tyler. The affidavit says Belt’s stepson called 911 after his mother and Belt got into a fight about him messaging other women on a dating app and Belt punched a door and threatened to burn down the house.
Belt was originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and one count of criminal damage to property. He pleaded guilty to one amended assault charge and had the other counts dismissed on Sept. 26.
Prosecutors recommended a one-year sentence for Belt because he underwent drug and alcohol treatment, maintained sobriety, engaged in therapy and had a job offer, his plea agreement says.
He was sentenced Nov. 7.
Contributing: Michael Stavola of The Eagle
