Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS) Copyright: 2002 The Topeka Capital-Journal Contact: http://cjonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/455 Author: Tim Hrenchir MAN SHOOTS SELF IN HEAD DURING ATTEMPT TO FLEE OFFICER Ryan M. Harris had told friends he was wanted on federal drug charges and would commit suicide rather than be arrested, police said Wednesday. Actually, prosecutors say, the 24-year-old Topekan was free on bond after being indicted on four federal drug charges that could put him behind bars for decades if convicted. Police said that when an officer tried to stop a car Harris was driving for a traffic violation early Wednesday, he led police on a chase that ended when Harris put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger as an officer was about 10 feet away. Harris was listed in critical condition Wednesday at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center, Sidwell said. He said Harris shot himself in the 400 block of S.W. Van Buren after a chase that began at about 2:10 a.m. Kena Rice, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office for Kansas, said Harris recently had been indicted on federal charges that he distributed about 2.2 grams of crack cocaine on March 29, about 4.7 grams of crack on April 5 and about 1.6 grams of methamphetamine on April 30, and tried to distribute about 7 grams of crack on April 30. If convicted, Harris faces sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on two of the counts, and between five years and 40 years on the others, Rice said. "He had already made an initial court appearance," she said. "He was out on bond." Sidwell said the chase began when officer Jeremy Berg tried to stop a red Nissan car driven by Harris after he saw him make an illegal turn to go north on S. Kansas Avenue at S.W. 10th Street. Berg was being paid overtime to look for drunken drivers through a program financed by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Sidwell said Harris violated several traffic laws while trying to elude Berg, including driving westbound on S.W. 5th Street, a one-lane street for eastbound traffic only. Harris later turned north into the alley just west of the 400 block of S.W. Van Buren. Harris slowed the car down to 5 mph to 10 mph, jumped out, started to run and fell as the car continued northeast and struck the YMCA building at 421 S.W. Van Buren, causing minor damage, Sidwell said. He said Harris got up and ran while being chased on foot by Berg, who twice told him to stop and saw Harris look back at him several times. Berg was about 10 feet from Harris when he saw the man pull a gun from his belt and shoot himself in the head. Police found a holster but no drugs or weapons in the car Harris was driving, Sidwell said. Harris had one passenger, who stayed at the car and was released after being questioned. Police said they learned from the passenger that Harris was under federal indictment and from other friends that Harris had said he would kill himself rather than be arrested. Shawnee County District Court records indicate Harris was convicted in 1997 of attempted aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and in 1996 of burglary to a dwelling, theft and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Miskell said Harris was a state prison inmate from December 1997 to April 2000 on the convictions for firearms possession and attempted aggravated battery to a law enforcement officer. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom