By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Robbery, kidnapping investigation leads to five arrests
Blake Stegman
Blake Stegman

A Great Bend Police Department investigation into an early Monday morning report of an aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping in Great Bend led to the arrests of five individuals, the GBPD reported in a release Wednesday afternoon.

According to the report, during the early morning hours Monday, the GBPD began investigating a reported aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated battery that had allegedly occurred in the 4700 block of 8th Street in Great Bend.

During the course of this investigation, GBPD detectives and patrol officers obtained and executed search warrants two separate residences, 1212 Warner Rd. and 4701 8th St., both in Great Bend. During the execution and thorough search of the residence at 1212 Warner Rd., items of evidence were located and seized related to the aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and battery investigation. 

During the execution and thorough search of the property located at 4701 8th St., detectives and patrol officers processed the scene of the alleged crime and located additional items of evidence. In addition, they also located and seized as evidence suspected items of illegal drug paraphernalia and quantities of suspected methamphetamine.

As a result, five individuals, identified by the GBPD as 25-year-old Braylin Bretz, 19-year-old Gunner Mayhugh, 38-year-old Tyler Tomlinson, 21-year-old Brennan Behnke and 20-year-old Blake Stegman, were all arrested on charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, criminal threat, felony obstruction - aiding and abetting, intimidation of a witness, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp. Bretz, Mayhugh and Tomlinson were arrested by the GBPD and transported to the Barton County Detention Center, where they were booked in lieu of bond. 

During the evening hours Tuesday, information was communicated between GBPD detectives and the Larned Police Department that resulted in locating Behnke and Stegman at a residence in Larned, Kansas. Both were arrested by the Larned Police Department, and were transported to the Barton County Detention Center where they were booked in lieu of bond.

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with any information in reference to this case is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.