Repeat Offender Stopped and Arrested Again

                 In the early hours of May 1st, 2023, Officer Connor Eichinger was operating stationary radar on US 400 Highway near the US 59 Highway junction. There he observed a Buick Enclave traveling eastbound at 95 mph in a 65-mph zone. The vehicle continued at this excessive speed into the city limits of Parsons.

Officer Eichinger activated his emergency equipment to stop the speeding motorist, later identified as Christopher Brian Blansett. 50 years old of rural Parsons. Blansett continued, exiting the highway, and turning northbound onto US 59, then west onto 26000 Road. Blansett stopped in the 2600 block of Flynn Dr.

Blansett was detained and found to have an active warrant through the City of Altamont for his arrest, and a suspended driver's license. During the investigation, Blansett was found to be in possession of a suspected controlled substance, which field tested to be methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Charges were sent to the Labette County Attorney's Office for Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Driving while Suspended, and Speeding.

Blansett is also listed as a Registered Offender as a Drug Offender, stemming from a Distribution of Controlled Substance conviction in 2021. A check of Blansett' s information for Offender Registration was conducted through the Parsons Registered Offender Program. Blansett was found to be in violation of his offender registration for failing to register changes to his registration that occurred in February of 2023. These changes are required to be made within three business days, with the registrar at the Labette County Sheriff's Office. A second report was taken for these violations and sent to the Labette County Attorney's Office for review of charges for three counts of Violation of Offender Registration Act.

Blansett was also stopped and arrested in March of 2023 for charges of driving with a suspended driver's license, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Law Enforcement. Blansett is currently being supervised by Community Corrections.

Blansett was appeared by a Labette County District Court Judge and held on No Bond and transferred to the Labette County Jail.

"This is another great example of one of our officers being proactive in community safety and traffic enforcement and it leading to a felonious arrest on a repeat offender and finding a Registered Offender to be out of compliance," said Patrol Lieutenant Kyle Wiford of the arrest.

This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to "See It, Hear It, Report It." If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060 or call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email at tips@parsonspd.com.

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