DOUGLAS COUNTY—The search for the driver in a hit and run accident that killed a 10-year-old Kansas girl ended Saturday in Indiana. The suspect's immigration status had an impact on information released in an effort to find 28-year-old Jose Alfredo Galiano Mesa, according to Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister.
On Saturday, U.S. Marshals and Indiana State Troopers notified Kansas official that Mesa who lived in Overland Park, was in custody in Martinsville, Indiana, according to Armbrister.
The Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for Mesa’s arrest as the suspected driver that struck a motorcycle about 5:19 p.m., May 14 at East 1900 Road and Kansas Highway 10. Brooklyn Brouhard, 10, of Eudora, later died from injuries suffered in the crash. She was a passenger on the motorcycle driven by her grandfather Barry Larson, 54, of Eudora, who was also injured.
Authorities in Indiana located a vehicle with Mesa inside and took him into custody, and the Sheriff’s Office will now work on getting him extradited to Kansas to face charges.
“We are grateful for this arrest to begin the next chapter in the process in bringing answers to Brooklyn and her family. We thank all law enforcement agencies, especially the U.S. Marshals for their hard work.” Armbrister said.
“I also want to thank the public for their patience and trust in us in this process as we were limited in information we could provide while trying to locate a suspect in this serious crime who was eluding us.”
Mesa’s immigration status played a very large role in the need to keep his name from the public, Armbrister said.
“It was our fear that he would flee the country if we made him famous for all the wrong reasons, and we were poised to do so if it appeared he was moving south,” the sheriff said. “However, through tireless investigation, we knew he was still in the Midwest and could not risk pushing him out of the area, and due to those efforts, we were able to bring him safely into custody.”
After conducting an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, deputies early in the investigation were able to identify Mesa as the driver of the van that struck the motorcycle and left the scene. Mesa had been in Lawrence earlier in the day on May 14 for a painting job and was driving back to the Kansas City area.
Witnesses reported the driver of the white van after the collision proceeded down the ramp leaving its bumper behind and returned to eastbound K-10. Based on vehicle debris at the scene, witness interviews and assistance from area law enforcement agencies, deputies identified the vehicle and seized it on May 16 in the Kansas City area. After identifying Mesa, deputies and fellow law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service had attempted to locate Mesa.
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