Thursday, October 22, 2009

Police and USD 259 administrators say the suspect at the center of this week's Amber Alert for a missing Marion Co. teenager was recently seen at schools across the state.

Wichita Schools spokesperson Susan Arensman confirmed Hernandez was a suspect in at least three cases locally. It's believe he walked into Heights High School, North High School and West High School in late September.

In each case, Arensman says Hernandez went to the administrative offices. In one instance, he reportedly said he was a student seeking enrollment. In another, he claimed to be a college recruiter. In a third incident, Arensman said he told officials he was an Olympic wrestler. Arensman said when administrators began asking Hernandez routine questions, he would quietly excuse himself and leave. Arensman said his actions never caused alarm among administrators, and therefore police were not contacted.

Junction City police chief Tim Brown said his officers identified Hernandez as a suspect in several similar cases at schools in Geary county. A man believed to be Hernandez was captured on security video walking one of the hallways of a Junction City school. Administrators contacted police in that case.

However, Brown says Hernandez was gone by the time authorities arrived. Even if Hernandez had been arrested, Brown said it was likely he would only be cited for trespassing, a misdemeanor.

Brown said it was later learned Hernandez was convicted in 2008 of car theft in Odessa, Texas. He was on probation at the time he was in Kansas. Brown said once officials identified Hernandez, he could have been held for up to 30 days for violating the terms of his probation.

Hernandez was arrested in Hiawatha, KS, Thursday morning after a bank teller recognized him and 17-year-old Tara Simhiser. Officials say Hernandez will be brought back to Marion County where he could face formal charges.