Newton police officer dies in ATV wreck

Levi Minkevitch
Newton Police Department’s Levi Minkevitch poses by his patrol vehicle on July 31 outside the police station. Mike Mendez/Newton Now

A Newton Police Officer has died in an ATV wreck Wednesday Feb. 17.

According to a crash log by the Kansas Highway Patrol, around 4:30 p.m.  Feb. 17,  Levi Minkevitch was driving a 2014 Canam All Terrain Vehicle in a ditch along Dutch Avenue northeast of Walton, a mile west of the Marion County boarder.

“The rider attempted to jump the ditch into the adjacent field,” The Kansas Highway Patrol report stated. “The rider lost control and rolled the ATV into the creek.”

Emergency crews transfered Minkevitch  to Newton Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. Minkevitch, of Peabody, was 30.

Minkevitch was a Sergeant in the Newton Police Department.

“Levi was a tremendous police officer and a friend to everyone he met,” Newton Police Chief Craig Dunlavy stated. ” He had a large presence and a smile that lit up a room. This loss is truly devastating. He will be missed.”

Sheriff Chad Gay also stated that the loss of Minkevitch was a blow to the local law enforcement community.

“Harvey County Law Enforcement is very close with each other I knew him well,” he said. “He was a really great guy.”

Harvey County Now featured Minkevitch following a 2017 ride along. Here’s the story that shows a bit what he was like.

 

0 replies on “Newton police officer dies in ATV wreck”