Several months of investigation came to an end yesterday with the arrest of a Great Bend man on weapons and drug charges.
On Thursday, June 10 at about 3 p.m. Barton County Sheriff’s Office detectives and deputies executed a search warrant at 1809 Jackson Street in Great Bend. A second warrant was executed at an adjoining building at 3108 18th Street.
Sheriff’s detectives had been investigating suspected drug and weapons charges at that location. During the course of the search, deputies located multiple firearms hidden in a wall. At least one of the firearms was stolen, others are suspected to be modified to function fully automatic. Homemade suppressors were also found. Thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized.
The resident, arrested at the scene, was identified as Matthew Jones, age 55 of Great Bend. Jones was transported to the Barton County Jail without incident where is booked on the following charges.
- Two counts of distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a school
- Criminal possession of a firearm by a drug user
- Criminal possession of a fully automatic firearm
- Criminal possession of a suppressor
- Possession of stolen property
- Possession of methamphetamine
Over the last several months the Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Great Bend Police Department. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has also been notified and is involved in the case.
Jones is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.