FOX 14 TV Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |Charges filed against four men arrested in meth bust near Baxter Springs

Charges filed against four men arrested in meth bust near Baxter Springs

Updated Friday January 27, 2012:  Charges are filed following last week's meth bust near Baxter Springs, Kansas.

Dale Karnes and Christopher Wene were each charged with five felony counts.  Bond was set at $100,000 each.

Curtis Seeber and Kyle Nuckles were both charged with one felony count.  Bond was set at $50,000.

The bust came last Friday in Baxter Springs after a month-long investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

All four defendants made their first court appearances Thursday afternoon.

Reported Friday January 20, 2012:  Authorities in southeast Kansas arrested seven suspects Friday on drug charges in busts in Baxter Springs.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Cherokee County Sheriff's Department and Baxter Springs Police Department joined forces for the bust.

Sheriff David Groves tells us the investigation started a month ago and included surveillance of the suspects.

All individuals at a home off of 82nd in Baxter Springs were detained, however only five male suspects were arrested.

Two more suspects were arrested at a second home off of Park in Baxter Springs.

The suspects face charges of drug possession and manufacture.

Sheriff Groves says it's crucial to stop the distribution of illicit drugs by tracking it to the source.

"It's vital to us being able to keep these drugs off the street," says Sheriff Groves.  "They plague our communities.  A lot of people are affected by drugs either directly or indirectly and so any time we can locate an area or suspects involved in manufacturing or distribution of those drugs that's where we want to try and cut it off at the source."

Sheriff Groves expects formal charges to be filed next week.