WICHITA — The Wichita Police Department announced Tuesday that they arrested 57-year-old Ed Harrington of Sedgwick on suspicion of stalking, auto burglary, theft, and violation of a protection order. The charges stem from an investigation into alleged stalking.
According to Wichita police, on May 26, a woman reported that Harrington, a person known to her, had placed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle. She had taken it to a local automotive shop, where they were able to locate and remove it.
On July 6, Harrington was brought to City Hall and interviewed regarding the case and a prior burglary in which the victim’s car was broken into, and numerous items were stolen.
After interviews, Harrington was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.
The arrest was made through work done by the Wichita Police Department (WPD) Domestic Violence Intervention and Reduction Team (DVIRT), and partnerships with community domestic violence advocates.
“The DVIRT team gives the victims the reassurance that we’re going to act swiftly on these cases, and we’re going to hold people accountable,” said Sgt. Roderick Miller, Wichita Police Department.
“There are very unique ways for abusers to track and locate you,” said Keri McGregor, Harbor House program director.
At Harbor House, they regularly work with victims of both stalking and abuse, where stalkers have been getting creative for years.
“It’s important that you have this information, information is power to keep yourself safe,” McGregor said.
Attorneys say there are tough laws in play in Kansas.
“The Kansas statute on stalking specifically includes in that course of conduct, the placement of a device on a targeted person’s property,” says KSN legal analyst Dan Monnat.
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