BARTON COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating a suspect

Just before 11 p.m. on May 27, Barton County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the south side of the Arkansas River after they had received reports of an alleged intoxicated person operating a front end loader and destroying property, according to a media release.

Evidently the suspect had run over several fences and posts belonging to the city of Great Bend along the flood control project.

Upon arrival, Sheriff’s officers located the front end loader but the operator fled.

The deputies determined the suspect took the loader from a local concrete company where he was employed.

The suspect was identified by several witnesses at the scene. He was later apprehended at his residence in Great Bend.

Jeremy W. Northcutt, 26, was arrested and charged with burglary, felony criminal damage to property and attempting to flee and elude a law enforcement officer. He is currently being held in the Barton County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.