The four individuals arrested earlier this month as part of a drug bust in Hays and Ellis have been charged and given a preliminary hearing date. Members of the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Ellis Police Department and Hays Police executed four search warrants at two residences in Hays and two in Ellis Thursday, September 5th. Officers seized over 2.5 pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine as well as paraphernalia and cash.
Nathaniel Ward, Rick McBee, Karen Knoll, and Rick Grecian were all arrested. Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin told Hays Post that officers arrived at Grecian’s residence as a result of a warrant out of Trego County.
Immediately after the arrival of officers, Grecian was transporter to Hays Medical Center. Harbin said the hospital stay was a result of a pre-existing medical condition and wasn’t related to the arrest. Grecian was in the hospital for approximately 3 days before being transferred to Trego County.
Harbin added that HIPAA prevents him from disclosing any additional information about Grecian’s hospitalization; however he did state that the charges out of Ellis County were a result of what officers discovered when executing the warrant out of Trego County.
Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees told Hays Post that each suspect has been charged and has a preliminary hearing set. The charges from Ellis County and hearing dates as of Tuesday September 24th are as follows:
Karen Knoll
- Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute level two, felony
- Possession of methamphetamine level five, felony
- Felony possession of drug paraphernalia level five
- Drug tax stamp violation level 10 nonperson, felony
- Misdemeanor drug paraphernalia
- Preliminary hearing set for November 6th.
Rick Grecian
- Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute level one, felony
- Possession of methamphetamine level five, felony
- Possession of marijuana level five, felony
- Felony Possession of drug paraphernalia level five
- Drug tax stamp violation level ten nonperson, felony
- Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia
- Preliminary hearing set for November 7th
Nathan Ward
- Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school level one, felony
- Possession of methamphetamine level five, felony
- Possession of marijuana level five, felony
- Felony possession of drug paraphernalia level five
- Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia
- Preliminary hearing set for October 9th
Rick McBee
- Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school level one, felony
- Possession of methamphetamine level five, felony
- Felony possession of drug paraphernalia level five
- Drug tax stamp violation level ten nonperson, felony
- Misdemeanor possession of marijuana
- Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia
- Preliminary hearing set for November 7th