A Blue Springs man admitted Thursday that there is plenty of evidence to convict him of charges stemming from armed robberies and a wild shootout with two Independence police officers in April 2009.
Nicholas F. Wallar, 30, entered an Alford plea on five felony counts – first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.
An Alford plea is when the defendant doesn’t admit to the crimes but does admit that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict. Wallar told Jackson County Circuit Judge Jack Grate that he was drunk the night of April 4, 2009, and did not remember many details of the crimes.
He told the judge he “came off a cocaine binge” and had been drinking for three days straight. Wallar told Grate he had used “a lot of cocaine” days prior.
Wallar walked up to a woman who was getting gas at a Blue Springs convenience store. Wallar pointed a black handgun at her, jumped in her black Chevrolet Monte Carlo and drove away from the store.
Later that night, Wallar was at a 7-Eleven store on Missouri 291 in Independence.
A pizza delivery driver had made a delivery to the store. As he left the store, he saw Wallar sitting in the front seat of the white 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. The driver had left the keys in the ignition.
Wallar drove away, but the pizza delivery driver grabbed Wallar’s arm in an attempt to stop him. Wallar drove over a curb and the pizza delivery driver fell to the ground.
An IPD patrol officer responded to a dispatch report saying a man had just abandoned a white Pontiac car at a residence on 31st Street.
Several officers searched the area.
Sgt. Steven Boles saw Wallar walking near the intersection of 35th Street and Lee’s Summit Road.
Wallar pulled out an Arminius .38 caliber handgun and started shooting at Boles, who retreated. Wallar chased him while still firing.
Boles unholstered his duty-issued .357 caliber handgun and returned fire.
Another officer, Barry Huwar, arrived. He saw Wallar standing in the road shooting at Boles.
Huwar drove toward Wallar as he fired four rounds from his handgun through the windshield of his patrol car. Huwar hit Wallar with the patrol vehicle.
Wallar suffered a gunshot wound to his chest.
Wallar could be facing 10 years to life in prison for assault and five to 15 years on the second degree robbery count. The armed criminal action charge could net him up to three years.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 23.Nine uniformed IPD officers attended Thursday’s plea hearing, showing support for Boles and Huwar, who were at the court hearing. Boles and Huwar received certificates of commendation from the department for their efforts that night.
