Liberal police took Remington Dean Orth, a 20-year-old male, into custody Sept. 24 at Seward’s Hale Court dorms. Orth was arrested between 8:30 and 9 p.m. at the Seward County Community College/Area Technical School dorms in connection with an investigation into suspicion of methamphetamine possession, according to the Liberal Police Department incident report. The police officers were responding to a campus security request for an investigation of alleged drug activity in Hale Court, according to Dennis Mulanax, head of security at SCCC/ATS.

“We have a good working relationship with the Liberal Police Department,” said Celeste Donovan, SCCC/ATS dean of students. “They responded very quickly to our housing staff request for assistance. We have a no tolerance policy in place at Seward. The first time anyone gets caught with illegal drugs they will be evicted from the dorms.”

Items seized or taken as evidence included a Browning 20-gauge shotgun, six baggies containing a white powdery substance, several glass pipes with a white powdery substance and a brown and white purse, according to the LPD incident report.

Also, according to the report, Orth could face charges of drug and drug paraphernalia possession.

Captain Patrick McClurg of the LPD said that the police department has always been serious about drugs and will be doing everything possible to make sure their case is protected. According to Seward County Attorney Don Scott, Orth faces two felony charges—one probable cause methamphetamine and one unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Orth appeared before a judge who mandated $5,000 bond that has since been posted. Orth’s court appointed attorney Paul Kitski had filed for a continuance on Sept. 30. Meth is a prevalent problem in Liberal, Scott said after Orth’s arrest. “If convicted he could face time in the penitentiary.”

“Besides the obvious health risks, methamphetamine can totally ruin your life,” Scott said, as a warning to others. “If you are caught, you will lose your right to vote, you can lose your right to be on a jury and you could face time in a penitentiary.”

According to Donovan, Orth was not a student of SCCC/ATS, however, additional sources indicate he was staying at Hale Court at the time of his arrest. Donovan said there is an ongoing investigation by the college regarding the incident. “Students need to think about their choices and understand the consequences that come with those choices,” she said.