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BCSO reports three-county effort resulting in six arrests
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Great Bend Police Department vehicles are pictured outside a residence at 5210 10th St., Apt. 1, one of seven locations where search warrants were executed Wednesday during a multi-agency drug bust resulting in six arrests with a seventh individual still at large as of Thursday morning.

A massive drug bust Wednesday, which spanned three counties and involved several area law enforcement agencies, netted six arrests, with a seventh individual still wanted for questioning.

Acccording to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, officers from BCSO, the Great Bend Police Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Juvenile Justice Authority, Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Rush County Sheriff’s Office and Stafford County Sheriff’s Office began executing began executing search warrants throughout Barton County around 8 a.m. Wednesday, with additional search warrants being executed in Stafford and Pawnee counties. 

According to Bellendir, BCSO and GBPD had cultivated information from various sources revealing a network used to distribute methamphetamine. One of the sources was an inmate in the Barton County Jail who was orchestrating drug deals on a recorded line. BCSO detectives were aware of the situation and were monitoring the phone calls.

During the course the execution of the search warrants, officers found evidence of drug distribution and money laundering. A large amount of U.S. currency, methamphetamine, drug processing materials and firearms were seized. At one location three preschool age children were taken into protective custody and released to the Juvenile Justice Authority.

The locations where the search warrants were executed include: 260 N. Washington Ave., Great Bend; 421 Dogwood St., Great Bend; 608 Windmill Ln., rural Great Bend; 611 Windmill Ln., rural Great Bend; 5210 10th St., Apt. 1, Great Bend; 1393 N. U.S. 281, rural St. John; and 1190 100th Ave., rural Larned.

As a result of the searches, six individuals were arrested and transported to the Barton County Jail:

• Amy Zapata, age 31, of Great Bend was arrested and booked for money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine, aggravated child endangerment, possession of paraphernalia as well as a Rice County District Court warrant. She’s being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond.

• John Paul Zapata, age 33, of Great Bend was arrested and booked for money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine, aggravated child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held on the $20,000 bond.

• Zach Thompson, age 25, of Hoisington was arrested and booked for distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a firearm, as well as interference with law enforcement officer. Thompson is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

• Linda Fernandez, age 37, of rural St. John was arrested for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pawnee County and transported back to the Barton County jail. She’s being held in lieu of a $20,000 bond.

• Alicia Dannebohm, age 42, of Great Bend was arrested and booked for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was released on a $10,000 bond.

• Marcus Snow, age 42, of Hoisington was arrested and booked for possession of methamphetamine possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Snow was released on a $10,000 bond.

• Mitch Selle, age 40, of rural Great Bend is still wanted for questioning in the case, and is still at large as of Thursday morning a. If you have information as to Selle’s whereabouts please call Crime Stoppers, 911 or the Barton County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s office detectives will be reviewing the information obtained from these warrants for further investigations. Bellendir believes further enforcement action will be taken as a result of these investigations.