Sheriff’s Office raids Wauneta home; finds 91 grams of meth

    Members of the Chase County Sheriff’s Office arrested  William Nathan Hale, 36, of Wauneta after a search of his residence yielded approximately 91 grams of methamphetamine.
    Sheriff’s officers served a high risk search warrant on Hale’s residence located at 387 W. Wichita Street in Wauneta Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 13.
    Two deputies and a narcotics dog from the Perkins County Sheriff’s office assisted in the drug search.
    Hale’s arrest culminated a seven-month-long investigation by the Chase County Sheriff’s Office involving the sale and distribution of methamphetamine. The investigation was led by Deputy Duncan Einspahr.
    Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said it appears the methamphetamine was being purchased in Colorado, transported to Chase County and then sold throughout southwest Nebraska.
    The street value of the methamphetamine seized was estimated at $9,100. The search also discovered drug paraphernalia, cash and 43 pounds of silver valued at $11,000. All of these items were seized by the Chase County Sheriff’s Office.
    As a result, 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.
Arrest warrant in Colorado
    The Chase County Sheriff’s Office investigation dovetailed an investigation by detectives with the Arvada, Colorado Police Department.
    Arvada detectives were investigating the June 2, 2017 death of Natasha Rowley, 25, formerly of Imperial. She was found dead in her Arvada apartment as the result of an apparent methamphetamine overdose.
    According to the Colorado arrest warrant affidavit, detectives found video evidence captured by a camera at Rowley’s residence, along with surveillance video at the apartment complex, that showed Hale was allegedly present prior to Rowley’s death.
    On June 5, detectives from Arvada, along with the Chase County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an interview with Hale in Wauneta.
    That interview led detectives to seek an arrest warrant for Hale in Colorado on the alleged offense of manslaughter for failure to render aid prior to Rowley’s death, along with several other alleged drug offenses.
    That same interview spurred the drug investigation by Deputy Einspahr that led to Hale’s arrest last week.
Extradition hearing
    A telephonic extradition hearing was held at Chase County Court last Friday. Hale did not waive his right to extradition to Colorado for those alleged offenses.

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