Press Release from Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir…

In the past few weeks the Barton County Sheriff’s Office and the Barton County Clerk of the District Court have received several phone calls from individuals who have been told they either have an outstanding warrant, or that they are required to show up for jury duty, or that they need to post bond for somebody. These are all phone scams.

The victim will be instructed to send a money order to a location only later to discover no such warrant or fine existed. Recently the Sheriff’s office investigated the case in which an individual in the county lost approximately $4,000 through a scam that claimed a relative was in jail out-of-state.

We have also had one case where the caller identified themselves as a Sheriff’s officer asking for bond money. Bonds on warrants and fines are never collected by telephone in Barton County or any other county in the state that I’m aware of.

Before you post any bond, pay any fine or send any money to what you believe is a governmental agency, tell the caller you will call them back. Then look up the number of the agency they claim they are from on the internet or from information. Call them back yourself to determine if this is a legitimate business.

In the past we have seen calls from numerous scammers claiming to be from federal agencies such as the DEA or FBI as well as state and local agencies such as local Sheriff’s Office and in this case the Clerk the District Court.

On behalf of myself and the Clerk of the Court, Heather Ward, we ask if you have any questions or doubts please contact our respective offices and we will be more than happy to help you. It is our most sincere desire no citizen is scammed through the fraudulent representation of our offices.

Barton County Sheriff’s Office Incident Log (9/5)

Burglary / Not in Progress

At 5:36 a.m. a burglary case was taken at 198 N. US 281 Highway.

Non-Injury Accident

At 12:46 p.m. an accident was reported in the 400 block of E. K-4 Highway in Claflin.

Criminal Damage

At 7:56 p.m. damage caused by lawnmower throwing rock at a car was reported at 30 Road 202.

Non-Injury Accident

At 11:28 p.m. an accident was reported in the 1500 block of Susank Road in Hoisington.

Great Bend Police Department Incident Log (9/5)

Sick Person

At 9:47 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 1009 Heizer Street.

Criminal Damage

At 10:35 a.m. report of someone keying her vehicle was made at 1401 Warner Cir.

Injury Accident

At 12:11 p.m. a vehicle was turning south and struck a subject on a bicycle at 10th Street & Grant Street.

Traffic Arrest

At 6:02 p.m. an officer arrested Evan Markley in the 800 block of Morphy Street for DWS.

Falls

At 8:09 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 801 4th Street.

Traffic Arrest

At 9:56 p.m. an officer arrested Tyler Witten for driving without an interlock device, illegal tag, no insurance, and possession of stolen property in the 1000 block of Van Buren Street.

Theft

At 10:18 p.m. theft of Kansas plate 259JEY was reported in the 400 block of Frey Street.

BOOKED: Trevion Birney of Great Bend on a Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

BOOKED: Juvenile of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for disorderly conduct, no bond.

BOOKED: Teresa Schmidt of Ellinwood for Great Bend Municipal Court case for serve sentence.

BOOKED: Dustin Chambers of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for contempt of court, bond is set in lieu of $500 cash only bond or 48-hour OR bond.

BOOKED: Evan Markley of Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while suspended, illegal tags, no insurance, bond is set in lieu of $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Tyler Witten of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for driving with no ignition interlock, no insurance, and expired tags, bond set at $1,000 cash surety. Court case for possession of stolen property, bond set at $1,000 C/S.

RELEASED: Daniel Rodriguez-Jiminez on Great Bend Municipal Court case for battery DV and criminal damage to property after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding. GBMC warrant for contempt of court after posting a $626 cash bond.

RELEASED: Trevion Birney of Great Bend on a Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Juvenile of Great Bend on Barton County District Court case for disorderly conduct after he was released to JJA / mother.

RELEASED: Dustin Chambers of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for contempt of court after posting $500 cash only bond.

RELEASED: Evan Markley of Great Bend on GBMC case for driving while suspended, illegal tags, no insurance, posted bond of $500 through TNT.

RELEASED: Tyler Witten of Great Bend on Great Bend Municipal Court case for driving with no ignition interlock, no insurance, and expired tags after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding. Court case for possession of stolen property after posting a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding.