Great Bend Police arrested two women Thursday morning after responding to a report of suspicious activity in the parking lot of a Great Bend hotel.
According to a GBPD release, at approximately 5:30 a.m. Thursday, officers with the GBPD were dispatched to the Days Inn parking lot located at 4701 10th St. Upon arrival, Officers contacted the reporting party, who reported suspicious activity involving two females, identified by officers as Angie Pittman, 48, and Kiera Shepherd, 20, who were driving a maroon 2016 Jeep Cherokee, with Michigan license plates.
Officers learned that Pittman and Shepherd were renting a room at Days Inn, Room 105, in Great Bend. Officers conducted a search of the room, where a laptop computer reportedly containing software to print fraudulent checks, blank check paper, as well as suspected marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were discovered. It was also reported that Pittman and Shepherd had bragged about using fraudulent checks in Russell and Salina, and they wanted to continue the criminal activity in Great Bend.
During the course of this investigation, Officers learned that an “attempt to locate” bulletin had been issued for the vehicle and occupants of the 2016 Jeep Cherokee regarding a theft case out of Salina.
Then, at shortly before 10 a.m., GBPD officers and detectives conducted a traffic stop on the maroon 2016 Jeep Cherokee for a traffic violation near the intersection of 10th and Coolidge streets. During the traffic stop, a narcotics sniffing K-9 with the Sterling Police Department arrived on scene to assist with the investigation.
After the Sterling Police K9 was deployed, the K-9 alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics. During a search of the vehicle, suspected marijuana and illegal drug paraphernalia were found. Also found inside the vehicle were several duplicate payroll checks and a rubber stamp with a signature. At the conclusion of the traffic stop, a search warrant was obtained and executed for Pittman and Shepherd’s motel room, where methamphetamine, additional drug paraphernalia, fraudulent checks, a printer and laptop were seized.
The 2016 Jeep Cherokee was impounded and a search warrant was obtained and executed for the vehicle. During a thorough search of the vehicle, a compartment was located in the front passenger seat and inside of the hidden compartment, detectives found approximately 162 grams of suspected marijuana, additional items of drug paraphernalia, and blank check paper.
Both Pittman and Shepherd were arrested on requested charges of distribution of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, traffic contraband into a correctional facility, and no drug tax stamp. In addition to the charges in Great Bend, cases in Russell and Salina, as well as areas of Indiana, further criminal charges are pending.
These investigations are 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.
