MURDER? fRIDAY NIGHT

[sas88nak]

Dodge City, Kan., man held in slaying of his bank-teller ex-girlfriend

By Kirk Mitchell
Denver Post Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 05/14/2007 06:09:54 AM MDT

A former lawman from Dodge City is accused of gunning down a bank teller. But this is a current crime, not a historical tale.

Christopher Tahah, 33, a former Dodge City, Kan., cop, was arrested in Kit Carson County on Friday after, authorities said, he stole a Hummer and led police on a chase across the Eastern Plains of Colorado. Upon his capture, Colorado officials learned Tahah was wanted on a Kansas murder warrant in the killing of his ex-girlfriend.

"I really don't know of anything that happened in Dodge City's folklore like this," Dodge City manager Jeff Pederson said.

Tahah, who is being held in the Lincoln County jail in Hugo, had been sought for allegedly killing bank teller Erin L. Jones, 31, at her Dodge City home May 5, Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesman Kyle Smith said Sunday.

Jones was a community- theater actress who recently performed in the musical comedy "Wild Women Never Get the Blues" at the Homestead Theater in Dodge City.

"She was fun," said the play's writer and director, Jim Johnson. "She was a real sweet kid to work with. We were just absolutely stunned to hear what happened."

Carol Wade, Jones' mother, said Tahah came over to their house on Easter and was very kind and polite. Her daughter worked at the Bank of America in Dodge City and had a daughter and a son, ages 7 and 5 respectively, she said.

But Jones later told friends she was afraid of Tahah after she broke up with him shortly after Easter and thought he was stalking her, Wade said.

Her daughter was shot execution-style in the head, Wade said.

"It scares me to death he was even around here," she said.

When Dodge City police learned that Tahah had been Jones' boyfriend recently, they referred the case to the KBI, Pederson said.

"The police department should not investigate one of its own," he said.

Pederson said that Tahah, who has been a police officer for about three years, was suspended May 5 when he became a suspect in Jones' murder. He was fired Thursday.

The Colorado State Patrol became involved Friday after receiving a call from OnStar, the General Motors auto-monitoring service, about a stolen black 2003 Hummer.

Tahah allegedly stole the SUV in Denver and led police on a chase on eastbound Interstate 70, said Gilbert Mares, State Patrol spokesman.

CSP officers tried four times to use spikes that deflate tires and pulled Tahah over twice, but each time he either swerved around the spikes or sped off when officers approached the SUV.

Dodge City Councilman Richard Sowers said the police are supposed to protect citizens.

"It's just so out of what you'd expect a police officer to act like," he said Sunday. "It's rather shocking."

Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.

WOW! This is hard for me to believe as I worked with Chris when I lived in Dodge City. Article sounds like it should have been written in 1907 not 2007.

[midgetlover]

regarding the rape case in that same area awhile back I know that they were basically stonewalled on the case because of her husband being a 3 strike felon so it wouldnt surprise me 1 bit hat he was involved and politics and their past played apart in noone being arrested or a suspect sought or captured in the case. He was suspended during the brief investigation and then put back on the force to roam the streets again and now if this is true then one dignity was taken and a life gone all over 1 cop that was protected to save face ina tarnished police force to begin with. This was after he was highered on to the DCPD I guess it isnt what you know its who you know once again playing the part. another officer wasnt even charged for pulling a gun on his wife another DV case and that officer was Det. Frank but he was let go and i believe he is now an officer in his home state of Alabama (i think thats the state) I also can tell you about another officer who is still onthe force that also stalked his g/f and ripped the wreath he had placed on her apt. door off and shredded it all over the hallway and harassed her and the person she was seeing and his friends me being one of them and he was promoted awhiel back to Det. I can go on but knowing this and being able to stop any of this is 2 different things.

[TexKan]

Well that's just some wrong kinda stuff. I hope it's not true but if it is the responsibility lies with the leadership of your PD and your town. I know in Texxas City (where son is) that kinda stuff would never happen but then that's the difference between a PD that has the certification of execlence and one that can't pass it. Very few can pass it but I'm lucky to be around officers that walk the walk. It's an embarresment when an officer is bad and then protected.

[Tee]

Originally Posted by midgetlover

regarding the rape case in that same area awhile back I know that they were basically stonewalled on the case because of her husband being a 3 strike felon so it wouldnt surprise me 1 bit hat he was involved and politics and their past played apart in noone being arrested or a suspect sought or captured in the case. He was suspended during the brief investigation and then put back on the force to roam the streets again and now if this is true then one dignity was taken and a life gone all over 1 cop that was protected to save face ina tarnished police force to begin with. This was after he was highered on to the DCPD I guess it isnt what you know its who you know once again playing the part. His best firend also in band has a history against his ex wife yet he is still on the force and another officer wasnt even charged for pulling a gun on his wife another DV case and that officer was Det. Frank but he was let go and i believe he is now an officer in his home state of Alabama (i think thats the state) I also can tell you about another officer who is still onthe force that also stalked his g/f and ripped the wreath he had placed on her apt. door off and shredded it all over the hallway and harassed her and the person she was seeing and his friends me being one of them and he was promoted awhiel back to Det. I can go on but knowing this and being able to stop any of this is 2 different things.

Anyone having any information about this allegation that Tahah was a suspect in this rape case is asked to please PM me. She is family. We were always led to believe that there were never any suspects in the case. This would explain the strange turn in the case when the DCPD started pointing the finger at the victim. I have shown the picture to the victim, and well- let's just say, she was instantly sick and upset. She has never gotten over it to this day. Sure would like to put some closure on that deal. All information will be kept under the strictest of confidence- No sources would ever be revealed.

[midgetlover]

the other officer i was speaking of is Det. James Thompson and now they are married but i saw his reaction to their break up firsthand and how the other ppl involved were guilty by association and he harrassed them continually actually went out of his way to be wherever they were he was reported and it was blown off so protect their own before they protect the ppl

[TexKan]

I would think a quick request for a restraining order would curb his enthusiasim and or a formal written complaint to his captain.

[Made in the USA]

KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Former Dodge City Police Officer Charged with Murder


A charge of "second degree murder"?? Sauer at it again??

[TexKan]

What's the criteria for first degree? Is the sentence that much different?

[Tee]

No doubt CourtTV, CNN, and Fox will want in on the action- I can't possibly imagine what DCPD is going through just trying to handle media relations. It's gotta be a nightmare!

[TexKan]

The perp probably is talkin book deal already - sounds like a Lifetime movie to me. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. It has everything folks crave, passion, sex, crime, runnin, I'm sure at one time there was some love in there somewhere, but I think the victim's family ought to reap the bennies instead of the perp.