After Kansas inmate conducted drug deals on jail phone, arrests made in three counties

After listening to drug deals made over a Barton County jail phone, officers used search warrants to make six arrests and seize drugs, money and firearms in three counties, Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.

Officers executed seven search warrants early Wednesday morning. The search warrants all started after deputies listened to drug deals being conducted on a recorded line at the jail, Bellendir said. The warrants turned up roughly $30,000, four guns and methamphetamine, Bellendir said.

Bellendir said the inmate making the drug deals from jail could face additional charges and was there for meth-related drug charges.

“Which is about 60% of my jail population,” Bellendir said.

The search warrants were executed at seven locations: five in Great bend and one each in St. John and Larned. Three preschool-age children were found at one location and taken into protective custody.

• Amy Ann Zapata, 31, of Great Bend, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine, aggravated child endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a Rice County warrant.
• John Paul Zapata-Beltran, 33, of Great Bend, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine, aggravated child endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Marcus Todd Snow, 42, of Hoisington, was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Zachary Ryan Thompson, 25, of Hoisington, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm and interference with law enforcement.
• Linda Fernandez, 37, of St. John, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Pawnee County.
• Alicia Dawn Dannebohm, 42, of Great Bend, was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Officers are searching for Mitch Selle, 40, of Great Bend, for questioning. Anyone with information about Selle’s whereabouts can call the Sheriff’s Office at 620-793-1876 or Barton County Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.