Arrests thwart actions of taxi cab drug outfit
Two men and one woman were arrested Thursday in connection with an alleged drug ring operating through Ace Taxi Service, Leavenworth.
Lt. Pat Kit-chens of the Leavenworth Police Depart-ment said Leav- enworth residents Michael Byrns, 40, Ed-ward Savage, 29, and Jimmy Ann Jones, 29, were arrested.
Byrns, the mechanic for the cab company, was charged with five counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, not having a drug tax stamp, and unlawfully arranging sales or purchase of a controlled substance utilizing a communication facility.
Byrns was also charged with a sixth count possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, not possessing a drug tax stamp, as well as felony and mis- demeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Savage, the owner of the taxi company, and Jones, were each charged on four counts of possession of methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bill Winzenburg, a victim’s witness officer, said the three had been released from jail on bond. They made their first court appearance Monday with District Judge Robert Bedner. The preliminary hearing for Jones and Savage has been set for 3 p.m. Oct. 21. The preliminary hearing for Byrn will be Nov. 13.
The investigation was the result of a six-month joint investigation conducted by the police department and Fort Leavenworth, Kitchens said.
“What led us to start the investigation was information from the Fort Leavenworth criminal investigations division,” Kitchens said. “They apparently got the information that the cab company had been selling alcohol and drugs to soldiers on base.”
Officers from Fort Leavenworth contacted the police department, Kitchens said.
“It’s my understanding that people within the community knew that if they called the cab company and asked for a specific driver, that driver would be in the position to provide them with narcotics,” Kitchens said.
Also found as the search warrant was conducted at Byrns’ home were what Kitchens described as three “homemade improvised explosive devices,” and supplies for additional bomb-making material.
“That was a bit of a surprise,” Kitchens said. “We weren’t quite expecting that.”