Tonganoxie man sentenced to 16 months in prison for fleeing police

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Jordan Turner Watson, 35, of Tonganoxie, was sentenced to 16 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.  

“Mr. Watson’s choices threatened the safety of everyone he passed as well as his own,” District Attorney Valdez said. “This sentence reflects the gravity of his decisions and our community’s commitment to preventing dangerous behavior on our streets.” 

Judge Stacey Donovan also sentenced Watson, who pleaded no contest in April 2024, to 12 months post-release supervision. Additionally, Watson was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of 6 months for a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.  

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred shortly after 8 p.m., on January 20, 2023, when drivers in the area of E 770 Road and N 1800 Road reported that a driver nearly caused several wrecks and was unable to maintain the vehicle lane. Deputies located the vehicle, driven by Watson, driving eastbound at a rate of more than 90 miles per hour in the 800 block of US Highway 40. Police initiated a stop at the intersection of W. 6th Street and US Highway 40 where Watson stopped briefly before going through several red lights. Police terminated the pursuit due to concern for the safety of citizens. Deputies then again located the vehicle in the 500 block of Monterey Way and restarted their pursuit of Watson who did not stop until he entered a parking lot in the 500 block of Greystone Drive. Watson then fled on foot before being captured as he attempted to climb a fence. 

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Foster represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.