A Johnson County jury finds a KCK man guilty of shooting a police officer in 2020

A Johnson County jury found a Kansas City, Kansas, man guilty Wednesday of shooting a KCK police officer in 2020.

Jesse James Flaugher, 37, was charged in December 2020 with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury found Flaugher guilty of attempted second-degree murder.

Flaugher was found guilty of shooting KCK Police Officer Daniel Vance in the chest and forearm as Vance pursued him following a hit-and-run accident in Overland Park on December 15, 2020.

The shooting occurred at 4 p.m. after Vance chased Flaugher in his car to County Line Road and Conser Street following the accident. According to KCKPD spokeswoman Nancy Chartrand, Flaugher stopped his car, allegedly to avoid crossing from Wyandotte County into Johnson County, then allegedly got out and began shooting at Vance, hitting him twice.

According to a 2020 press release from the district attorney’s office, Vance returned fire, but Flaugher was not injured. Vance fully recovered from his injuries.

Flaugher then fled in his car, which was later found in Johnson County. He was arrested in rural Miami County on December 21, 2020 and was initially held on a $1 million bond.

The trial began Oct. 8, according to court records. The jury returned its guilty verdict around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

According to court documents, Flaugher was previously charged with aggravated assault in Oklahoma.

A sentencing hearing for Flaugher will be held on January 9, 2025 at 2:30 p.m

This article used previous reports by Cortlynn Stark and Katie Bernard.