KCK police officer charged with drug possession, misconduct put on unpaid leave
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. on May 14 to include a statement submitted by Eric Evans’ attorney. A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer has been placed on unpaid administrative leave after being charged for drug possession.
Eric Evans, a six-year employee of the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, faces felony charges for possession of cocaine and methamphetamines and misdemeanor charges for drug paraphernalia possession and official misconduct.
Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree and Police Chief Karl Oakman announced the charges against the patrol officer during a Thursday afternoon news conference in downtown KCK.
KCKPD, in collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, conducted a sting operation on Wednesday, while Evans was off duty, that resulted in officers arresting him during a traffic stop.
Dupree told press in attendance that the case was filed under seal, meaning details are not publicly available, because law enforcement in 2025 received a tip about Evans’ potential involvement in a drug deal from a source that they wish to keep anonymous.
As of Thursday, law enforcement had no information that suggested Evans used his position as a police officer to conduct drug deals in the community.
If found guilty of the felony charges, Evans could face between 10 and 42 months in prison or a fine of up to $100,000. The misdemeanor charges could add thousands of dollars in fines or additional prison time to that sentence.
Evans will remain on unpaid leave throughout the criminal case against him, Oakman said. After the case concludes, KCKPD will conduct an administrative investigation to determine whether Evans committed violations that would result in termination. Evans’ attorney, Brandan Davies of Overland Park-based Roth Davies, LLC, maintained his client’s innocence in a May 13 email to The Star.
“Mr. Evans has done nothing wrong,” Davies wrote. “There are two sides to every story and we trust that the justice system will function in such a way as to let the truth ultimately prevail. Mr. Evans is hopeful that he will be able (sic) move past this and continue to serve his community.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 2:33 PM.
