SEDGWICK COUNTY- A Kansas man and woman arrested after three police officers were injured by a modified shotgun blast when they checked out a vacant home in Wichita made their first court appearance Wednesday.
James Hathorn, 46, is charged with burglary, theft, criminal possession of a weapon, aggravated weapons violation by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Tiffany Vulgamore is charged with burglary and theft.
Hathorn remains jailed on a bond of $100,000. Vulgamore is being held on a bond of $50,000, according to online jail records.
Just after 4p.m. February 27, police were dispatched to check the residence in the 1400 Block S. St. Francis in Wichita after a the homeowner had called 911 to report that they had discovered damage to the vacant home and they believed someone might be inside.
Upon arrival, officers obtained keys from the homeowner and attempted to check the residence to ensure no one was inside. After entering the front door of the residence, officers reported hearing an explosion and three officers sustained injuries to their legs, according to Police Chief Gordon Ramsay during a Monday news conference.
Initially, the officers thought it was an explosion or even a bomb, according to Ramsay.
The injured officers were removed from the residence and transported to an area hospital for treatment. One of the officers was treated and released Saturday. One of the other officers had minor injuries and the third was listed in serious but stable condition. Both were released from the hospital Monday.
The Wichita Police Department SWAT team and Bomb Squad were activated and secured the house. The investigation revealed that no one was inside the home, but someone had left a modified, loaded shotgun in the residence which discharged as the officers made entry.
Investigators learned the two suspects had been staying at the home but had left before police arrived Saturday. The loaded, sawed off shotgun had been left in a side pouch of a recliner near the entrance of the home, according to Ramsay. Police arrested Hathorn and Vulgamore on Sunday when they tried to enter the same home.
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