Task force arrests two Topeka women, seizes large amount of meth
The Shawnee County Sheriff s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force seized a large amount of methamphetamine while arresting two women Monday, said Sheriff Brian Hill.
He said an investigation conducted by the task force brought about the arrests of Ebonie Dominique McKinzie, 37, and Patricia Hernandez-Lopez, 22, in the 2900 block of S.E. Adams.
McKinzie was booked at 11:20 p.m. and Hernandez-Lopez at 11:25 p.m. Monday into the Shawnee County Jail, where records indicated both were being held without bond Tuesday in connection with possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The sheriff s office drug enforcement task force also consists of the Topeka Police Department and the Rossville Police Department, Hill said.
The Shawnee County Sheriff s Office arrested two people Thursday while seizing about 15 pounds of marijuana, which had been brought from Oregon to be distributed here, said Sheriff Brian Hill.
Shawnee County Jail records identified those in custody as Lisa L. Webber, 51, and Steve L. Counts, 59, both of Topeka.
The marijuana was seized by a sheriff s deputy and his K-9 partner, who are involved in drug interdiction efforts, Hill said.
He said the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force, which consists of the sheriff s office, Topeka Police Department and Rossville Police Department, then seized methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and additional marijuana while conducting a search in the 2600 block of S.W. Morningside Drive.
The Shawnee County Sheriff s Office seized 91.8 pounds of meth in the first quarter of 2021.
Sheriff Brian Hill presented first-quarter numbers to the Shawnee County Commission at Monday’s meeting. The department also seized 29.7 grams of marijuana and 2.1 grams of cocaine in 2021.
“Since the first of the year our drug task force has been extremely busy,” Hill said. “We want to let the public know we are working diligently to interrupt the flow of narcotics into Shawnee County.”
A presentation by the sheriff s office showed that methenamine use among people ages 26 and older has been increasing since 2016, but the use with people 18-25 has fluctuated.
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