Just before 3 p.m. on Thursday, a detective from the Great Bend Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a Ford F150 pickup truck driven by Murel Amador, 70, near the intersection of Broadway and Coolidge Street in Great Bend. During the traffic stop, the Great Bend Police Department K-9 “Niko” was deployed to the scene. Following a K-9 indication, a subsequent search of the truck revealed two pounds of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Amador was placed under arrest and transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked on charges of distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. Amador's bond was set at $300,000.
In connection with an ongoing drug-trafficking investigation, Great Bend Police Department officers and detectives obtained a narcotics search warrant for the residence located at 5221 Broadway Ave. in Great Bend. Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, law enforcement executed the search warrant at that residence. During the execution of the search warrant, officers discovered substantial quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, controlled substances, homemade explosive devices, and evidence indicative of drug distribution activities. At the time of the warrant service, Great Bend Police officers apprehended Cynthia Martin, 67, and Allanah Schmidt, 56
Martin was arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. Her bond was set at $100,000. Schmidt was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. Her bond was set at $10,000.
In total, 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of more than $130,000 was seized during this operation. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this case or any other case is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.