Oct 17, 2020

Police: Man threatens Wichita mayor over mask mandate

Posted Oct 17, 2020 4:00 PM
Meredith Dowty photo Sedgwick County
Meredith Dowty photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A retired firefighter who was upset with the city’s mask ordinance has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to kidnap and kill Wichita’s mayor. 

Meredith Dowty, 59, Wichita, could face a charge of criminal threat.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple said he had been read text messages received by another city official that asked about the mayor’s address and threatened his life.

The mayor says the suspect talked about tyranny in the messages and was upset about the mask mandates and not being able to see his mother because of COVID-19 restrictions on elderly homes.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged criminal threat made toward the mayor of Wichita.

On Friday, police were alerted to threatening statements directed toward city of Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

Officers immediately began investigating the threatening statements and arrested 59-year-old Meredith Dowty of Wichita on a requested charge of criminal threat.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Wheeler released no additional details late Friday.