Record meth bust logged

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 5, 2005 by Tim Richardson Capital-Journal

CJONLINE.COM

A deputy who struck up a conversation with a traveler on Sunday ended up striking a jackpot --- the sheriff's office's largest seizure on record of crystal methamphetamine.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Martha Lutz said a deputy at about 8:45 a.m. was at Kelly Express, 1001 S.W. Wanamaker Road, when he began talking to a man who was paying for gas. During the conversation, the man's story didn't line up, Lutz said.

"The deputy just noticed the out-of-state tag and was just visiting with him," she said. "He was visiting with the individual and became suspicious of the conversation that they had."

The deputy asked and received permission from the man, Jorge Olivares, 25, of Everett, Wash., to search his green 2000 Toyota pickup. Hidden in the bed of the truck was 20 pounds of crystal meth, which has a street value of $1 million, Lutz said.

The haul represented the largest seizure of crystal meth by the sheriff's office, authorities said.

Olivares was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with possession of meth with the intent to sell, possession of meth, possession of paraphernalia and no Kansas drug tax stamp.

Tim Richardson can be reached at (785) 295-1282 or tim.richardson@cjonline.com.