‘Spirit of fortitude’ recognized in survivor of 2010 Fontana Street attack

Chief Wes Jordan (left) presents Marti Hill with the award as Capt. Wes Lovett looks on.

The Prairie Village police had never given a “Spirit of Fortitude” award before.

They’d also never encountered a woman quite like Marti Hill.

Before a packed chamber at City Hall Monday, Chief Wes Jordan presented Hill with a plaque and read a commendation recognizing the incredible perseverance Hill demonstrated in surviving the brutal attack that nearly killed her in September 2010.

Hill was alone in her Fontana Street home when Brian Pennington, a Missouri man who had recently done some handyman work for her, came into her home, attacked her and left her bleeding to death on her basement floor. Co-workers became worried when Hill didn’t show up for work and called police, who found her clinging to life.

“We salute such a courageous spirit who is willing to share her story so others may not endure similar hardship,” Jordan said. “Marti, you have touched our hearts while garnering our respect. We are proud to call you our friend. May God bless you.”

The department on Monday presented Supervisory Recognition Awards to Luke Roth and Jason Wakefield, the two detectives whose quick work contacting Pennington and obtaining clothing he wore the day of the attack ultimately led to his arrest and conviction in the case. Pennington was sentenced to 28 years in prison in December 2011.

Jordan also presented Supervisory Recognition to three staff members — dispatcher Naomi Kent and officers Cody Stech and Daryl Thompson — who were instrumental in the arrest of the “cross-dressing bank robber.”

“Most officers will tell you they got into the field because they wanted to help people — and that’s true,” Jordan said. “But the other part, the part they don’t say as much, is that they want to catch the bad guys. Actually getting the chance to arrest a bank robber is a once-in-a-career thing for most police officers. These three did an excellent job performing under pressure, and bringing the bad guy in.”

Full text of the commendations for the department staff are copied after the jump.

Cody Stech receives his award as Daryl Thompson and Naomi Kent look on.

SUPERVISORY RECOGNITION – October 2011 – Cross-Dressing bank robber

Dispatcher Naomi Kent
On the afternoon of October 21, 2011, Dispatcher Naomi Kent was working alone in Communications when a bank robbery was reported at the U.S. Bank at 6940 Mission Road. Naomi quickly ascertained what had occurred and a description of the two suspects.

Dispatcher Kent immediately dispatched patrol units to the scene, while providing a detailed description of the suspects to the responding officers. Due to the number of responding officers to the area, she was quickly inundated with a large volume of radio traffic. Naomi maintained her composure while calmly communicating pertinent information during the response, vehicle pursuit, foot chase, and subsequent arrests.

Dispatcher Kent is commended for maintaining a professional demeanor during a serious incident, and playing a key role in the eventual arrest of the two bank robbery suspects.

As a result of Dispatcher Kent’s exceptional performance, the Prairie Village Police Department awards her the Supervisory Recognition Award.

Officer Cody Stech

On the afternoon of October 21, 2011, officers were dispatched to a reported bank robbery at the U.S. Bank at 6940 Mission Road. The dispatcher provided descriptions of the suspect(s), who had just fled from the scene.

Officer Cody Stech responded to the immediate area and was alerted by witnesses the suspect vehicle had turned right onto Tomahawk from Mission Road and was traveling eastbound into Mission Hills. Another officer had just arrived on scene and broadcast the suspect vehicle was a white or cream in color ‘Sebring.’

Officer Stech observed the suspect vehicle in the area of West 69th Street and Belinder Road. He activated his emergency lights to engage the suspects and they continued to flee east on West 65th Street, then turn north onto Overbrook. Officer Stech was able to provide pertinent information so responding units could coordinate a felony vehicle stop or pursuit, if necessary. The suspect vehicle route of escape was thwarted by Officer Thompson in the 6400 block of Overbrook.

Officer Thompson pursued the passenger, who fled from the vehicle and Officer Stech stayed with the driver, who had remained in the vehicle. Officer Stech then provided tactical assistance in taking the driver into custody.

As a result of Officer Cody Stech’s exceptional performance, the Prairie Village Police Department awards him the Supervisory Recognition Award.

Officer Daryl Thompson

On the afternoon of October 21, 2011, officers were dispatched to a reported bank robbery at the U.S. Bank at 6940 Mission Road. The dispatcher provided descriptions of the suspect(s), who had just fled from the scene.

Officer Thompson responded to an area near State Line Road since responding officers advised the suspects were fleeing in that direction. Officer Thompson continued to monitor the location of the suspects, while attempting to position his vehicle to tactically intercept the suspects. When the suspects turned north on Overbrook Road, he observed patrol units following the suspects in pursuit. Due to Officer Thompson’s experience and knowledge of Mission Hills, he knew Overbrook intersected with Sagamore to the north and he proceeded to that area without delay.

Officer Thompson acted decisively by blocking the suspects path of escape in the 6400 block of Overbrook Road. As the vehicle came to a stop, the driver was taken into custody while remaining in the vehicle and the primary suspect in the armed robbery fled into a creek bed in a residential area. Although Officer Thompson knew the suspect was possibly armed, he did not hesitate to engage in a foot pursuit after the suspect. The suspect tried to navigate dense foliage to escape; however, he was taken into custody by assisting officers without incident.

As a result of Officer Daryl Thompson’s exceptional performance, the Prairie Village Police Department awards him the Supervisory Recognition Award.

SUPERVISORY RECOGNITION – September 2010 – Marti Hill Case

Det. Luke Roth

On September 8, 2010, at approximately 1210 hours, officers were asked to check the welfare of Marti Hill since she had not arrived for work that morning. The first officer on scene entered the residence and found Ms. Hill in the basement of her residence — she was unconscious and barely alive. It was readily apparent she had been the victim of a brutal attack. She was quickly transported to the hospital and officers were uncertain if she would be able to survive.

Detective Luke Roth and Detective Jason Wakefield were assigned to the case, a case that proved to have few leads because Marti Hill was a model citizen who was well-liked. Simply stated, there wasn’t a likely suspect associated to Ms. Hill; therefore, detectives were uncertain if this attack was random or if the suspect was somehow known to Ms. Hill. Ms. Hill was in no condition to provide any leads to the detectives — the only strategy the detectives had to go on was to contact anyone and everyone who was acquainted with Ms. Hill.

On September 10, detectives decided to travel to Leeton, Missouri, to visit Brian Pennington, a handyman who had worked for both Ms. Hill and her mother in the past. Although the hour was late, the detectives were aware the likelihood of solving the case was diminishing with each passing minute. When they arrived at his residence, they immediately noticed scratches to the side of his face, which heightened their suspicion. During the course of their interview, they were able to build a rapport and eventually obtain the clothing he had worn on the day Ms. Hill was attacked. This evidence would later prove to be crucial to solving the case because DNA evidence would link Mr. Pennington to the crime scene.

Mr. Pennington could not escape the tireless efforts of Detective Roth and Detective Wakefield. On November 18, 2012, Mr. Pennington entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder and aggravated burglary and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Thankfully, Ms. Hill was in attendance to see justice served.

As a result of Detective Roth’s exceptional performance, the Prairie Village Police Department awards him the Supervisory Recognition Award.

Det. Jason Wakefield

On September 8, 2010, at approximately 1210 hours, officers were asked to check the welfare of Marti Hill since she had not arrived for work that morning. The first officer on scene entered the residence and found Ms. Hill in the basement of her residence — she was unconscious and barely alive. It was readily apparent she had been the victim of a brutal attack. She was quickly transported to the hospital and officers were uncertain if she would be able to survive.

Detective Jason Wakefield and Detective Luke Roth were assigned to the case, a case that proved to have few leads because Marti Hill was a model citizen who was well-liked. Simply stated, there wasn’t a likely suspect associated to Ms. Hill; therefore, detectives were uncertain if this attack was random or if the suspect was somehow known to Ms. Hill. Ms. Hill was in no condition to provide any leads to the detectives — the only strategy the detectives had to go on was to contact anyone and everyone who was acquainted with Ms. Hill.

On September 10, detectives decided to travel to Leeton, Missouri, to visit Brian Pennington, a handyman who had worked for both Ms. Hill and her mother in the past. Although the hour was late, the detectives were aware the likelihood of solving the case was diminishing with each passing minute. When they arrived at his residence, they immediately noticed scratches to the side of his face, which heightened their suspicion. During the course of their interview, they were able to build a rapport and eventually obtain the clothing he had worn on the day Ms. Hill was attacked. This evidence would later prove to be crucial to solving the case because DNA evidence would link Mr. Pennington to the crime scene.

Mr. Pennington could not escape the tireless efforts of Detective Wakefield and Detective Roth. On November 18, 2012, Mr. Pennington entered a plea of guilty to attempted first degree murder and aggravated burglary and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Thankfully, Ms. Hill was in attendance to see justice served.

As a result of Detective Wakefield’s exceptional performance, the Prairie Village Police Department awards him the Supervisory Recognition Award.

SPIRIT OF FORTITUDE AWARD – Ms. Marti Hill

The Prairie Village Police Department is proud to present the “Spirit of Fortitude” Award to Ms. Marti Hill for summoning the strength, courage, and determination to overcome unwarranted adversity.

Marti is to be commended for maintaining a positive attitude while summoning the might to survive such an undeserving act of evil. She is an example of perseverance and we salute such a courageous spirit who is willing to share her story so others may not endure similar hardship. Marti, you have touched our hearts while garnering our respect…we are proud to call you our friend. May God bless you, Marti!

Presented by Chief Wes Jordan on behalf of the Prairie Village Police Department.