ABILENE- Law enforcement authorities in Dickinson County are investigating five suspects for the alleged distribution of marijuana to local residents, including high school students, according to Dickinson County Sheriff Gareth Hoffman.
Agents of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Unit and officers with the Abilene Police Department began the investigation in January.
On Monday, a controlled purchase of marijuana was conducted from a residence at 812 Northwest Third Street in Abilene.
On Tuesday, agents of the Sheriff’s Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Deputies, and Abilene police officers executed a search warrant for the residence at 812 Northwest Third Street in Abilene.
Those arrested included:
–Tristen Jacob Howard, 20, on felony counts including suspicion of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Failure to Obtain a Kansas Drug Tax Stamp, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, and Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device to Arrange a Drug Sale plus a misdemeanor allegation of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
–Matthew John Dinkel, 25, on felony counts including suspicion of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device to Arrange a Drug Sale, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and a misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
–Devon Michael Hallock, on felony counts including suspicion of Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, Acquiring Drug Proceeds, Unlawful Use of a Telecommunication Device, and additionally on two counts of suspicion of Assault On Law Enforcement Officer for an alleged altercation in the Dickinson County Jail after his arrest.
–Michael Wayne Wright, 31, on a felony count of Possession of Methamphetamine plus two misdemeanor counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
–Zachary Taylor Swarts, 18, on a felony allegation of Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana.
Hoffman reported that during the search of the residence law enforcement officers seized more than two ounces of marijuana that were ready for sale, and over 50 pieces of evidence related to the distribution of marijuana. During the course of the investigation it was learned that persons arrested were allegedly selling marijuana to people from the ages of 14 to 21.
Also noted as a result of the investigation, law enforcement officers in Great Bend were able to execute a search warrant there. Law enforcement seized several pounds of marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia, and are expecting to make several arrests of people suspected in dealing marijuana to local residents.