PTSD on Trial: "And please leave poppy flowers at my grave at Arlington"

Affidavit details armed standoff with police, allegations of gunshots, threats, animal abuse
Lawrence Journal
By Conrad Swanson
May 21, 2017

Lawrence police officers were familiar with Kewley, according to a recently released arrest affidavit. They were aware that he is a veteran who reportedly served time in special forces and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors and blackouts.

When Michael Kewley surrendered himself to officers, police say they found several loose rounds of .45-caliber ammunition in his pocket.

Across the street, Kewley's neighbor found another bullet on his kitchen floor and several bullet holes in his home.

Photo by Nick Krug.

Armored members of the Lawrence Police Department respond to a standoff in the 2500 block of Scottsdale Street, Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

Lawrence police officers were familiar with Kewley, according to a recently released arrest affidavit. They were aware that he is a veteran who reportedly served time in special forces and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors and blackouts.

The affidavit — a document that explains the reasons for an arrest — offers new details in the case of an armed standoff between police and Kewley that lasted several hours on Lawrence's southwest side and resulted in a number of felony charges. Allegations in an affidavit still must be proved in a court of law.

Currently Kewley is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $50,000 bond and is awaiting a hearing later this month.

Kewley served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, said one person who asked not to be named but said she lived with him. The woman also said Kewley is under care of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and recently experienced the deaths of two close friends, which caused him to become suicidal, the Journal-World previously reported.

And if officers weren't aware before, they were told on April 4 of Kewley's distrust of law enforcement, the affidavit says.

That morning, around 7:15 a.m. officers were dispatched to Kewley's home at 2525 Scottsdale St. to check on Kewley, who was reportedly threatening to commit suicide.

One woman who met Kewley on a dating website called police, the affidavit says. She told them she woke up that morning to a text message from Kewley that said "I'm sorry dear I'm gonna have to do something very dumb and regretful. And please leave poppy flowers at my grave at Arlington."
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