Kansas man violating coronavirus quarantine order arrested and jailed, sheriff says

A Kansas man has been arrested and jailed after allegedly violating a quarantine order amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Barton County officials said in a Facebook post that Sheriff Brian Bellendir informed county commissioners of the arrest during Monday’s commission meeting.

The sheriff said that a resident was uncooperative with the county health department and refused to follow orders. He was eventually arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail, where he is being housed in isolation. Jail staff are using protective measures when dealing with the inmate.

Bellendir did not respond to a request for comment from The Eagle Tuesday afternoon.

The Great Bend Tribune reported that Bellendir said 32-year-old Tyler Witten had direct and sustained contact with a person known to have tested positive for COVID-19. He was served with a quarantine order last week. Witten has been tested, but results are pending.

The Great Bend Post reported that Bellendir said he spoke with the health director, county attorney and a district court judge before Witten was arrested.

“We were faced with an impossible decision,” Bellendir said, according to The Post. “Do I allow this person to continually run around the community potentially exposing the community to COVID-19, or do I potentially expose my inmates in the jail? I chose to err on the side of the public.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 6:36 PM.