Authorities arrested Michael Alan Hull in Weston late Wednesday morning, ending a search that began more than 31 hours earlier and prompted West Platte School District to cancel classes Tuesday.

Photo of Michael Alan Hull provided by the Platte County Sheriff's Office

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office and Weston Police Department took Hull, 37, into custody at approximately 11:50 a.m. after receiving information that he was at a Weston residence, according to Capt. Jeffrey Shanks, the Sheriff’s Office public information officer.

Hull was arrested without incident on an outstanding felony warrant, Shanks said. Authorities did not identify the residence or provide additional details about the arrest.

Hull is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Search begins before dawn

The search began at approximately 4:20 a.m. Tuesday when Platte County deputies responded to assist Weston police with a report of a suspicious person near Missouri highways 45 and H. Based on the description, officers believed the person was Hull.

Hull’s warrant was issued Sept. 5 after he allegedly fled a traffic stop, causing minor injury to a Weston police officer, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Residents reported seeing someone running from the area Tuesday morning. Investigators also received security-camera footage that appeared to show Hull possibly carrying a firearm.

Weston Police Chief Kelly Clark told KCTV5 that Hull had an AR-style rifle.

The search later moved to a former residence of Hull’s on Cherry Street after authorities received a report that a door was open. The house was unoccupied, and officers believed Hull might be hiding inside.

Law enforcement established a perimeter and obtained a search warrant for the residence. Officers entered the house but did not find Hull and later cleared the area.

The city asked residents to avoid the intersections of Walnut and Cherry streets and Spring and Cherry streets during the operation. It also asked people not to post photographs or information revealing officers’ activities on social media, warning that doing so could jeopardize the operation and officers’ safety.

The Chronicle observed at least seven Platte County law enforcement vehicles outside the former Weston Bunkhouse at approximately 7:35 a.m. Officers were also seen patrolling Cherry Street. By 9:26 a.m., the response included SWAT personnel and an armored vehicle near Walnut and Cherry streets.

Investigators later received information indicating Hull had left Weston and might be in the river bottoms south of the city. The Platte County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, Buchanan County sheriff’s deputies and the St. Joseph Police Department SWAT team conducted a ground search of that area.

Authorities suspended the search at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday after about 12 hours because of officers’ exposure to extreme heat and the difficulty of searching areas of heavy brush. No injuries, including heat-related injuries, were reported during the search.

The Sheriff’s Office kept additional law enforcement resources in the Weston area until Hull’s arrest Wednesday.

Early practice underway

West Platte Superintendent Brock Dover said Clark notified him at approximately 5:25 a.m. Tuesday that officers were searching for a person of interest who had been seen near the school campus before dawn.

Several athletic teams had been holding early practices because of the recent heat. The cross-country team was already on campus when Dover received the notification.

District officials contacted coaches, canceled the remaining before-school practices and directed the cross-country coaching staff to gather the student-athletes. The students were escorted to their vehicles or released to their parents.

After addressing the students and coaches already on campus, administrators continued communicating with local and county law enforcement about the approaching school day.

The district notified families at 6:27 a.m. that classes would begin two hours late. Dover said the delay was intended to give officers more time to respond while allowing the district to proceed cautiously with bus routes, student arrivals and the possible opening of school.

As the law enforcement presence increased and the situation remained active, administrators became concerned about bus pickups, parent drop-offs and students traveling to campus.

“We felt it was best to keep students safe at home, as the situation was still fluid and active,” Dover said.

The district canceled classes shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

One faculty member who also serves as a coach and several teachers had already arrived or were traveling to campus under the delayed-start schedule, Dover said. Several administrators also remained on campus while communicating with law enforcement and assessing the situation.

The district planned to resume classes, practices and routine activities Wednesday. Information about whether Tuesday’s missed instructional day will need to be made up was not provided.

Dover said the district will review its response, including its decisions and emergency notification procedures, and identify possible improvements.

The Sheriff’s Office credited the Weston, Riverside and St. Joseph police departments; Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office; FBI; Central Platte Fire Protection District; and Taking It to the Streets for assisting with Tuesday’s operation.

This story was updated at 12:28 pm September 9, 2026.