A Great Bend man, John Paul Zapata, was arrested Friday afternoon on multiple charges after interfering with Barton County Sheriff’s deputies attempts Friday afternoon to execute arrest warrants for him at a residence north of the city.
According to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir , deputies had three felony warrants for Zapapta, and at about 1 p.m. Friday, they attempted to execute them at 260 N. Washington, just north of the City of Great Bend. They were unable to make contact with him.
“While deputies were at the location, Zapata took photographs of the Sheriff’s vehicles setting outside of his residence and sent them to other people. These other individuals promptly notified the Sheriff’s Office, confirming Zapata was inside the house. Zapata also stated in his text messages law enforcement was going to have to come in and get him. Deputies continued to knock and announce their presence and Zapata refused to come to the door. A search warrant was obtained, and deputies repeatedly tried to make contact by voice and telephone. Zapata refused to cooperate.”
According to Bellendir, the Sheriff’s office has executed search warrants at this residence before resulting in recovery of guns, methamphetamine and currency. The Sheriff’s office was hesitant to make a forced entry immediately.
“Teargas was deployed twice,”he said. “Sheriff’s officers forced entry and after a thorough search of the house Zapata was found hiding in a crawlspace to avoid the effects of the teargas.”
After further refusal to comply with the arrest warrants, several Sheriff’s deputies entered the crawlspace and removed him.
Zapata was placed under arrest at about 5:00 PM and transported to the Barton County Jail and booked on charges of interference with a law enforcement officer and criminal threat in addition to the felony warrants: possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony warrant for domestic battery, stalking as well as violation of the PFA and other charges. Zapata is being held without bond on one of the felony warrants and various bonds amounts on the other charges.”
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Great Bend Fire Department and EMS as well as the K9 officer and a detective from the Great Bend Police Department.
Bellendir confirmed Saturday morning that Zapata is also known as John Zapata-Beltran.
Recently, on March 4, according to the Barton County Sheriff’s office daily report, John Zapata-Beltran, was booked for distribution of methamphetamine, aggravated child endangerment, possession of drug distribution paraphernalia and money laundering. He was released later that day on a $20,000 surety bond. A search warrant was executed early that morning at the 260 N. Washington residence.
Further back, on Sept. 13, 2019, Barton County Sheriff’s Office contacted Zapata at the N. Washington residence where he was arrested then on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. That action was part of a raid conducted at several locations in the county.
According to The Great Bend Tribune’s “On the Record” report of Sept. 13, 2019, Zapata was booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of criminal possession of a firearm and felony in possession of firearm, with bond set at $300,000. He was released on a surety bond on Sept. 19.
