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Officers return to site of May drug bust
Suspected 'ice' seized again
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Officers returned to the site of a previous drug raid Saturday morning, and arrested two Great Bend residents for the second time in three months — this time on federal charges.

Around 10:30 a.m., members of the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Great Bend Police Department and Kansas Bureau of Investigation executed warrants at 3119 25th St., the residence of Mark R. Wintholz, 45. Tiffinie D. Moore, 26, was also at the residence, and both were issued federal arrest warrants for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. They were taken into custody without incident and booked into the Barton County Jail to await transportation to a federal detention facility.

The federal charges stem from a previous investigation. On May 2, officers from the BCSO and GBPD issued search warrants at the Wintholz residence, and at Moore’s residence, 1019 Morphy, and at the residence of Debra Holder, 5930 Eisenhower Court. At that time, officers reported they had recovered "a sizeable amount" of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $13,000.

BCSO Detective Rick Popp explained that "crystal meth" or "ice" has a different appearance than "rock" methamphetamine, which is more commonly produced in this area. Ice is usually brought into Kansas from other states or from Mexico.

"Typically, the meth that we find being produced here is made with household products and has a more grainy appearance," Popp said. Typically a rock is 27-40 percent methamphetamine, mixed with other ingredients. Ice is purer — containing about 90 percent meth — and has the appearance of shards of ice or glass.

After the first arrest, a case was initially filed in Barton County District Court, but was later adopted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.

Popp said officers had two arrest warrants and a search warrant when they returned to 3119 25th St. on Saturday.

More suspected drugs were seized Saturday. Officers found "a sizeable amount of suspected crystal methamphetamine, as well as a large amount of drug paraphernalia within the home."

The actual amount seized will be determined by a lab, and measured in weight by grams, Popp said. He described a "sizeable amount" as an amount that could indicate the intent to distribute, although amount is not the only factor considered. While the first seizure was reportedly over 100 grams, the amount of suspected narcotic seized Saturday was smaller.

Formal charges are pending and the case remains under investigation.