A Great Bend man was arrested early Thursday morning after an ATV from an earlier traffic stop was reported stolen Wednesday night.

According to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, at just after 3 a.m. Monday, BCSO deputies observed a green Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle traveling with a Chevrolet pickup in the 100 block of SE 20 Road, just south of Great Bend, at which time deputies conducted a traffic stop. During the course of the investigation, deputies became suspicious that the utility vehicle may have been stolen but were unable to confirm any information to that effect at that time. The Kawasaki was impounded pending further investigation but no arrests were made at that time.

At about 9:45 p.m. the following day, the Kawasaki Mule in question was reported stolen by the owner from a location in rural Barton County, Bellendir said. BCSO then began looking for the suspects they had previously contacted.

Then, at about 12:45 a.m. Thursday, the Great Bend Police Department came in contact with Gefferey Palacio, 18, of Great Bend, who had been previously identified by BCSO deputies as the alleged operator of the vehicle during first contact Monday morning. BCSO deputies asked GBPD officers to hold the suspect until they arrived. 

Palacio was then placed under arrest and transported the Barton County Jail without incident. During the course of the arrest, he was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Palacio was booked on charges of felony theft and possession of methamphetamine, and is being held in lieu of separate $5,000 and $10,000 bonds, respectively.

Bellendir said further arrests in this case are expected.