SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for killing a Sedgwick County Sheriff's K9 officer.
Kaylon Kirkwood, 25, Wichita, was sentenced to nearly 2 and one half years for battery of a law enforcement officer and and another year in jail for harming or killing the the K9, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In November, the Wichita Police Domestic intervention and Violence Reduction team was in the area of Pawnee and Rock attempting to locate a robbery suspect later identified as Kirkwood according to Wichita Police Lt. Lieutenant Aaron Moses.
Just after noon, police located Kirkwood but he fled into a creek and barricaded himself in a storm drain and refused to come out.
Sheriff's deputies and police used extended leashes and sent K9 officers into the drain. There was an altercation between the Kirkwood and Sedgwick County Sheriff K9 Bane. The dog was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Moses.
Just after 2:30p.m. Kirkwood was finally taken into custody and transported for treatment of minor injuries from the K9. After Kirwood was released, police booked him into the Sedgwick County Detention Center.
In May, Kansas legislators voted to override a veto of House Bill 2583, known as “Bane’s Law.” The law increases penalties for inflicting harm on law enforcement animals, including horses. The felony crime is now punishable by a minimum of 90 days in jail and a minimum fine of $10,000.
The law was inspired by Sedgwick County K9 officer Bane.
Officers were chasing Kirkwood in November, 2023. Kirkwood tried to hide in a storm drain near Rock Road and Pawnee. The K9 officer Bane was sent in after Kirkwood. Police said Kirkwood strangled Bane.
Judge Eric Williams ordered $38,379.98 in restitution to cover the cost of a new dog, a K9 ballistic vest, training along with Bane's necropsy and cremation. Restitution was payable to several parties because the Sheriff's office received donations that covered some of the items.
In an unrelated case Kirkwood pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with sexual motivation and interference with law enforcement. Kirkwood was sentenced to 29 months for the battery case and seven months for the interference case. All sentences are to run consecutively. The sentences are the maximum allowed under Kansas law.