On Monday, March 27 at approximately 4:04 p.m., an officer with the Great Bend Police Department observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in the 5200 block of 10th Street, with a driver who was known to the officer to not possess a valid drivers license.
The officer confirmed with Barton County Dispatch that the driver still did not possess a valid drivers license and conducted a traffic stop in the 5100 block of 9th Street. During the traffic stop, K9 Menta was utilized to conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle. After a positive alert of the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, officers conducted a search of the vehicle.
During the search, officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Arrested on scene was the driver, identified as Justin Herren, age 39. Herren was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Herren was transported to the Barton County Jail where he was booked and confined in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
If anyone has any information regarding this crime or any other investigation, they are encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at (620) 793-4120 or Great Bend Crime Stoppers at (620) 792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.