A Marion County man suspected of stealing a car Saturday in Great Bend told police he was a federal agent, according to reports from the Great Bend Police Department. Calvin Hinz, 34, of Lincolnville, was booked into the Barton County Jail on multiple charges, including false impersonation.
Officers from the Great Bend Police Department were dispatched to Wal-Mart, 3503 10th St., in reference to a stolen vehicle at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Pablo Sanchez-Montero, 39, reported taking his gold 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis to Wal-Mart for service in the automotive service center. When he returned to pick up his vehicle, it was discovered that it had been stolen.
Officers began searching the area and reviewing security video to determine the identity of the person who stole the vehicle. The vehicle was later located in the parking lot at Comfort Inn, 911 Grant St.
Hinz was staying in a room at the motel and, based on the information from the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the motel room he was staying in.
“Once the search warrant was executed at the motel, Hinz was taken into custody by officers from the GBPD,” Lt. Scott Bieberle said. “Hinz identified himself to the arresting officers as a federal agent, which was later determined to be false information.”
At the time his arrest, he was in possession of other stolen property and narcotics. Hinz was booked on the charges of felony theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking contraband into a correctional facility and false impersonation. Formal charges in this case are pending in Barton County District Court.
“The vehicle was processed and released back to the owner,” Bieberle said. “I commend the officers involved in this investigation for a job well done. This was a good example of officers working together to bring an expedient resolution to this case.”