Updated: The jury is set to get the case this afternoon.
A man set for trial next week had skipped out on his parole five days before police reported pulling him over in a traffic stop on June 27, 2007. Apparently to avoid detection, Scott Riener, 40, gave officers the name of his brother as his own, police said.
Problem was, Riener’s brother had a warrant for his arrest.
When confronted with his brothers’ warrant, police said Riener drove off, dragging an officer, who had reached into the car, about 50 feet. Another officer gave chase north on Broadway, then west on Morris before Riener’s car hit a curb. The officer chased Riener and became involved in a lengthy fight before finally arresting him. Police said both officers required treatment at a local hospital.
Riener, listed in prison records as 6 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 230 pounds, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery of an officer. He had been on parole six times in the past 15 years. He’d stopped reporting to his parole officer four times.
Wichita lawyer Mark Schoenhofer, a candidate for district attorney, represents Riener. Deputy District Attorney Kevin O’Connor is prosecuting.
The trial began Monday before Judge Rebecca Pilshaw.