Man sentenced for bystander’s death during police chase

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – It began with a man trying to pass forged checks. It ended with a first degree murder conviction and a sentence of life in prison.

Brandon Jordan, a man from Topeka convicted of fleeing from police that led to another driver’s death, was sentenced Friday in the death of 69-year-old Dennis Affolter of Topeka.

Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said the chase in November 2019 began after officers received a report of a man trying to pass forged checks at a Topeka bank.

The suspect’s car eventually ran a red light and hit a vehicle driven by Affolter, who later died of his injuries.

Jordan was convicted in August of first-degree murder and several other charges.