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.