Chase County Sheriff's Office executes drug raid in Wauneta
On Dec. 13, 2017 at 4 p.m. the Chase County Sheriff’s Office executed a high risk search warrant on a residence located at 387 W. Wichita Street in Wauneta, Neb. The operation was the culmination of a seven month investigation conducted by the Chase County Sheriff’s Office involving the sale and distribution of methamphetamine. Through the investigation, it appears that methamphetamine was being purchased in Colorado, transported to Chase County and then sold to a large area of southwest Nebraska.
During a search of the residence occupied by William Nathan Hale, officers discovered approximately 91 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $9,100, drug paraphernalia, cash and 43 pounds of silver valued at $11,000, all of which has been seized by the Chase County Sheriff’s Office. Hale faces charges in Chase County for Distribution of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, a Class 1D Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class 1C Felony; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class 1 Misdemeanor. The Perkins County Sheriff’s Office along with their K9 unit assisted Chase County with the search.
Hale was also arrested on a Colorado warrant for the following charges: Manslaughter C.R.S.18-3-104, Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substance C.R.S 18-18-405, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance C.R.S 18-18-403.5, Unlawful Use of a Controlled Substance C.R.S 18-18-404, and Special Offender—Importation C.R.S 18-18-407. His bond for the Colorado charges is set at $500,000 cash. Chase County bond has not been set at this time.
The investigation by the Chase County Sheriff’s Office was initiated by a parallel investigation carried out by the Arvada, Colo. Police Department. On June 5, 2017, detectives from Arvada along with the Chase County Sheriff’s Office conducted an interview with Hale. The investigation by the Colorado authorities stems from Hale’s involvement in the death of 25-year-old Natasha Rowley, which occurred June 2 in Arvada, Colo. Rowley was a former resident of Imperial, Neb., and a Chase Couny Schools graduate. She was found dead at her Arvada residence as the result of an apparent drug overdose. The Chase County Sheriff’s Office hopes the arrest of Hale will bring some closure and understanding to her family.
The Chase County Sheriff’s Office and Arvada Police Department detectives worked in cooperation during this lengthy investigation into Chase County's drug trafficking case and Arvada's manslaughter investigation.
It’s important for people to understand that cases of this type move slowly and take many hours of manpower. As Chase County is a smaller agency, it is even more difficult because of the limited resources. The lack of their own investigator means the deputies have to perform their regular duties along with the investigation.
"It may appear that we are not doing anything, but behind the scenes we are actively doing everything we can about the drug problem we have in Chase County," said Sheriff Kevin Mueller.
The sheriff's office encourages anyone with information to call, because that little piece of information may be just what they need to complete the puzzle.
This release provided courtesy of the Chase County Sheriff's Office.