INDEPENDENCE — An Independence man has been arrested on suspicion of fleeing and eluding and distributing drugs in Montgomery County, and his arrest led authorities to others alleged to be possessing or dealing drugs.
At 6:12 p.m. Dec. 30, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on a 2025 blue Nissan passenger vehicle near Birch and Cement streets in Independence. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and sped off, initiating a pursuit.
During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle reached speeds of 66 mph in a posted 30 mph zone, 83 mph in a 45 mph zone and 108 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to a release from the sheriff’s office. The pursuit continued east on U.S. 160 and north on County Road 4500, where the driver lost control and crashed at County roads 4500 and 4600 northeast of Independence.
Deputies apprehended the driver, Cornel Owens of Independence. A search of Owens' person revealed 32 grams of suspected marijuana, a 9 mm handgun, five grams of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms and other suspected illegal pills. Additionally, deputies discovered over nine ounces of suspected methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Meth has a street value of about $1,300 an ounce, depending on quality, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Owens was transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. Concurrently, deputies conducting surveillance at 601 E. Edison in Independence observed activity leading to a separate vehicle stop conducted by the Independence Police Department. The driver, Bobbie Austin Jr. of Independence, was found in possession of over seven pounds of suspected marijuana and arrested.
Based on the evidence gathered, deputies obtained a search warrant for 601 E. Edison. The sheriff’s office, Independence Police Department and Kansas Bureau of Investigation executed the warrant. Several individuals were located at the residence: Clifford Craft, Dylan Craft, Tabitha Parks and Chase Vankirk, all of Independence.
Two juveniles, aged 6 and 4, were also present. Law enforcement seized suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and various pills from the residence. The juveniles were placed in police protective custody, and all adults were arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections.
In Labette County, Owens faced similar charges from a police pursuit in October 2018. He never appeared in court until June 2024. His case was resolved in October with a plea to fleeing and eluding, a felony. He had essentially flattened his prison term because of required (at the time) credit for time served in another jurisdiction while the Labette County case was pending. Owens has a criminal history score of A in Kansas, meaning he has more than three felony crimes against persons on his record. Three of them are for fleeing and eluding law enforcement. A fourth is for attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child. A fifth for violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act, which requires certain felony offenders to register their addresses and other information with the sheriff in their county every three months.
The Labette County case resulted from a Halloween morning chase in Parsons in 2018. Owens was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban during the pursuit and jumped out of the SUV while it was still moving on South 18th Street near Morgan. The SUV struck a tree and stopped and Owens ran off and escaped police. A search of the Suburban turned up methamphetamine, marijuana, about $1,100 in cash, a fentanyl patch and a loaded Taurus Judge revolver on the driver’s side floorboard. Owens drove off when police tried to serve a warrant on him at 12:25 a.m. that day at a Parsons motel at 400 Main. Drugs and guns were found in the motel room as well.
In Montgomery County, law enforcement is asking for these charges for the arrested defendants:
Cornel Owens: Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement; distribution of methamphetamine (100 grams to 1 kilogram); distribution of marijuana; criminal possession of a firearm; distribution of depressants (10 to 100 doses); possession of drug paraphernalia; multiple traffic violations.
Bobbie Austin Jr.: Distribution of marijuana (450 grams to 30 kilograms).
Clifford Craft: Possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of depressants; aggravated child endangerment.
Dylan Craft: Possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; aggravated child endangerment.
Tabitha Parks: Possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia.
Chase Vankirk: Possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; interference with a law enforcement officer.
Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade commended the efforts of all agencies involved. “This investigation is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our deputies, the Independence Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. Together, we removed significant quantities of illegal drugs and a firearm from our community. It is heartbreaking that young children were placed in such dangerous environments. I want to extend my gratitude to all officers for their hard work and commitment to protecting and serving our community.”
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be recommended.
