A Great Bend man was arrested Wednesday morning following a traffic stop during which Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies found stolen items, according to a BCSO news release.
The driver of the vehicle identified as Alex Wise, 29, of Great Bend has been booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of burglary, theft, driving while with a suspended license and failing to comply with restrictions (no interlock device).
At 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 34 Northeast 20 Road just north of the city of Great Bend. Officers had been advised of suspicious activity in the area, in particular a vehicle seen at a vacant residence.
The suspect vehicle had already left the area when deputies arrived, but they were able to locate it a short time later in Great Bend, the release said.
Officers executed a traffic stop and contacted the driver. It was found that Wise did not have a valid Kansas driver’s license and was placed under arrest.
Through investigation, the officers suspected stolen items were in the vehicle as well as in a storage shed in Great Bend that Wise informed the officers about. A search warrant was obtained for both the vehicle and the storage shed.
Upon execution of the search warrant a large number of stolen tools and other items were discovered.
Sheriff’s Office detectives estimate as many as 10 theft cases and burglaries may be cleared. Further arrests are expected.