Franklin County, KS – A Franklin County man remains at large after allegedly firing a gun at a deputy responding to a disturbance call in rural Ottawa on Sunday evening.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 7:22 p.m. on September 21 in the 1200 block of K-68 Highway. A neighbor reported that Lester Caleb, 54, was firing a weapon on his property and making verbal threats. When the first deputy arrived, Caleb allegedly shot twice in his direction. The deputy was not hit or injured.
Authorities said Caleb was last seen walking across his driveway before disappearing from view. Multiple agencies, including the Ottawa Police Department’s Special Tactics and Rescue Team, Miami County Sheriff’s Special Response Team, and Kansas Highway Patrol, responded. A helicopter and drones were deployed to monitor the area, while neighbors were evacuated in armored vehicles for safety.
Despite an extensive overnight search of Caleb’s property, deputies said he was not found inside any structures. Law enforcement remains on scene and is continuing efforts to locate him.
Authorities caution the public not to approach Caleb, who is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
Officials emphasized that while Caleb’s behavior has been described as erratic, there is no indication he poses a broader threat beyond those directly involved in the incident.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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