Man shot by Kansas trooper was subject of DEA drug smuggling investigation in KC area

A Kansas man who was shot by a state trooper and bitten by a police dog after a chase on the interstate was under federal investigation for alleged drug trafficking.

Dustin S. Schultz-Bergin, 40, of Olathe, was shot Jan. 23 after a police pursuit on I-35 in Chase County. He was originally hospitalized in Wichita in critical condition, but now he faces several federal charges in Kansas City, Kansas.

Schultz-Bergin was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court on Wednesday with possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court filing also asks for the forfeiture of the two guns he allegedly had — a Springfield Armory XDM .40 caliber handgun and a Smith & Wesson M & P Bodyguard .380 caliber pistol — as well as accompanying ammunition.

In court documents, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration detailed what led to the criminal charges.

The DEA agent wrote that an investigation that started in July 2019 identified Schultz-Bergin as a supplier of illegal drugs in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Then on Jan. 23, the agent watched as Kansas Highway Patrol tried to arrest Schultz-Bergin at the Matfield Green service area along the Kansas Turnpike.

Schultz-Bergin initially escaped by getting back into the passenger seat of a Nissan Altima, the DEA agent wrote. Troopers chased the northbound car for about 10 miles. Schultz-Bergin had a gun when he got out of the car, and troopers shot at him. He continued to run away, hopping a fence and fleeing into a field, where a police dog was used to apprehend him.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the KHP officer-involved shooting. A KBI spokesperson said at the time that a trooper used stop sticks during the chase to disable the vehicle. An armed suspect got out of the car, and one of two troopers at the scene fire multiple shots during the confrontation. The suspect was hit by at least one bullet, and he had several puncture wounds from the dog. He was critically hurt and taken to Wesley Medical Center.

No law enforcement officers were injured.

The DEA agent wrote that investigators spoke with two women who were in the car with Schultz-Bergin. The driver said that he had asked her to drive him to El Paso. He initially said they were going to pick up $10,000 to $20,000 in cash, but later told her they were getting meth to bring back to the Kansas City area.

The passenger said she was unaware of any criminal activity, other than plans to use heroin and meth while on the road trip. Investigators determined she was lying after a search of her phone turned up text messages showing she has helped Schultz-Bergin find customers for illegal drugs.

Four days after the incident, a search warrant was executed on the Altima at the KBI laboratory in Topeka. They found 3.35 kilograms of meth, a gun and other illegal drugs, including heroin, controlled pharmaceutical substances, suspected GHB and more meth.

The kilograms of meth were wrapped in multiple layers, including plastic wrap, packaging tape, carbon paper and a Ziplock-style bag. The package was placed inside two plastic shopping bags that were put in a waterproof-style backpack, and the backpack was hidden in a duffel bag. The bag was in the trunk of the car.

The most recent meth price statistics from the KBI show the drug ranges in value in Kansas from about $250 per ounce to about $500 per ounce. At those prices, the 3.35 kilograms of meth seized from the car would be valued between approximately $29,500 and $59,000.

This story was originally published March 8, 2020 at 8:18 PM.