Man Arrested After Alleged Molestation at Smithville Lake Beach

Clay County deputies have arrested and charged a 26-year-old man after an alleged assault involving two teenage girls at Smithville Lake on Independence Day.

Carlos Climaco-Garcia

According to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Carlos Climaco-Garcia, 26, was taken into custody on July 4 and now faces two felony counts of child molestation. The alleged incident occurred around 8 pm, at the Little Platte Swim Beach, where two 13-year-old girls were swimming.

Investigators report that the man approached the girls in the water and began asking them personal questions which made them uncomfortable. He then allegedly grabbed and groped the girls, attempting to remove their swimsuits. The girls managed to escape by reportedly kicking the suspect in the groin and returned to the beach to alert their parents.

The parents immediately notified deputies in the area and provided a description of the suspect. Deputies located Climaco-Garcia a short time later and took him into custody.

Climaco-Garcia is currently being held at the Clay County Detention Center on a $75,000 bond. A bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 10, during which prosecutors will ask the judge to increase the bond to $100,000.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident and urges anyone with additional information to contact authorities.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Sheriff’s Office to Give Gift Cards Instead of Tickets

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office kicked off its No Ticket, Let’s Fix It initiative on Wednesday, July 2, to promote positive interactions between law enforcement and residents.

Instead of issuing a ticket for minor equipment law violations like broken head lamps or turn signal lights, deputies will give drivers a $10 gift card to a local auto parts store to get the replacement part.

“Despite what some may think, we don’t enjoy giving out tickets,” said Community Interaction Sergeant Megan Blackburn, who spearheaded No Ticket, Let’s Fix It. “But it is a part of the job to keep people safe and hold them accountable to the law. This is a way we can inform our citizens of a minor infraction and help give them a way to fix it.”

No Ticket, Let’s Fix It is only possible thanks to generous Clay County auto parts stores that donated the gift cards, including O’Reilly Auto Parts stores in Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Kearney, Liberty (Liberty O’Reilly employees even contributed from their own pockets) and Smithville; as well as Auto Zone in Liberty.

The program will last until deputies distribute all the gift cards.

KPGZ News – Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.

Man Faces Charges After High-Speed Chase and Standoff

A Kansas City man is facing serious charges after a high-speed chase and armed standoff brought traffic to a halt on Interstate 35 near Liberty on Friday, June 27. The dramatic incident ended with the suspect falling asleep during a standoff and being taken into custody.

Clay County prosecutors have charged 65-year-old Larry M. Finley with aggravated fleeing a stop under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law

Clay County prosecutors have charged 65-year-old Larry M. Finley with aggravated fleeing a stop under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law, which increases penalties for dangerous behavior during police pursuits. According to court records filed Saturday, June 28, the charges stem from a chaotic series of events that unfolded the previous day and endangered multiple drivers.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident began around 2:45 p.m. on June 27, when deputies attempted to stop a gray Chevrolet Impala near Missouri Highway 69 and Lightburne Street. The license plate appeared to have been tampered with, raising suspicions.

When officers pulled behind the vehicle, Finley allegedly swerved into another lane, attempting to block law enforcement by using other vehicles as cover. Deputies initiated a traffic stop, but the situation quickly escalated.

Finley stopped briefly near Nebo Hills Road, where he claimed to have recently purchased the vehicle. He began to retrieve the car title but abruptly shoved the document back into a red backpack and refused to provide further paperwork. Moments later, he shifted the car into drive and fled the scene, prompting a high-speed chase.

According to the sheriff’s office, Finley reached speeds nearing 120 mph in zones marked 45 mph. He reportedly ran a red light and narrowly missed multiple vehicles. Deputies deployed tire deflation devices near I-35 and Lightburne Street, which were partially successful, but Finley continued to drive with damaged tires unraveling into traffic.

The pursuit briefly paused near Missouri 291 Highway, where a female passenger exited the vehicle. However, Finley sped off again, running over a second set of spike strips.

Citing the increasing threat to public safety, law enforcement officers performed a tactical maneuver to disable the vehicle. Once stopped, Finley refused to exit and instead held a knife to his own neck, prompting a full shutdown of I-35 in both directions. The standoff led to multiple traffic crashes in the surrounding area as drivers attempted to navigate the gridlock.

The Sheriff’s Office said the passenger cooperated with authorities and revealed that Finley had multiple outstanding warrants and was determined not to be taken “without a fight.” She also disclosed that they had been on their way to deliver narcotics north of the Missouri River.

Eventually, after several hours, Finley fell asleep inside the vehicle. Law enforcement safely apprehended him without further incident.

Finley now faces prosecution under Valentine’s Law, which was enacted to impose harsher penalties on individuals who endanger others during police pursuits. Additional charges related to drug trafficking and resisting arrest may also follow as the investigation continues.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Clay County Sheriff's Office Warns of Sophisticated Jury Duty Scam

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new and highly deceptive phone scam making the rounds today. A scammer claiming to be a Clay County deputy is contacting numerous residents, urging them to return a call to 816-200-0795. The number connects to what appears to be an official Clay County Sheriff's Office phone tree — but officials confirm it is a fraudulent system.

“This is a scam,” Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Manager Sarah Boyd said in a statement. “It may sound convincing, but do not engage with it.”

The fake phone tree mimics a real administrative phone system, but all menu options funnel the caller to the same selection: “civil service.” From there, victims may be directed to a website that falsely claims to be related to federal civil services. The site appears legitimate at first glance, but on closer inspection, all links redirect to a single account log-in page — and the domain ends in .org, not .gov as all authentic federal websites do.

The underlying scam follows a familiar pattern: targets are told they missed jury duty and now face a warrant for their arrest unless immediate action is taken. However, the added layers of a fake phone system and fraudulent website make this version more convincing — and more dangerous.

The official administrative number for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is 816-407-3750, and the non-emergency line is 816-407-3700. Any residents receiving suspicious calls are encouraged to report the incident and not provide personal or financial information.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Operation Small Fry Pairs Deputies with Kids for Fishing

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is pairing children with deputies and Sheriff’s Office professional staff for a day of fishing and fun on Saturday.

Operation Small Fry will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 at the County Pond located at 16616 NE 116th St., Kearney, Mo.

Counselors and social workers from school districts across Clay County nominated students to participate who could benefit from positive one-on-one interaction with law enforcement. About 25 children will be provided with fishing poles and all the gear needed to catch fish. They will be paired with a deputy or Sheriff’s Office staff member as they attempt to reel one in. The biggest catches of the day will get trophies. Participants also will enjoy a grilled lunch.

Operation Small Fry started in 1996 as the brainchild of Sergeant John T. Wright at Smithville Lake. Sergeant Wright wanted to help provide male role models to children who did not have one in their lives. The event grew, eventually moving to the County-owned pond. Sergeant Wright passed away in 2007, and the Sheriff’s Office memorialized him with a shelter house at the pond. The event was on hiatus for about 10 years, and it returned last year.

KPGZ News - Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.