The Hastings Police Department has announced the arrests of eleven individuals on drug related charges through the cooperative efforts of the CANDO Drug Task Force (Compact for Apprehension of Narcotics Dealers and Offenders).

Officers say some, but not all, of those arrested were working together. The charges are primarily related to the distribution of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA (also called ecstasy) and various prescription drugs.

Hastings Police say it's uncommon to make this many drug related arrests of this severity in one day, but it was possible because of the months of work from several area law enforcement agencies.

The member agencies involved in CANDO include the Police Departments in Hastings, Grand Island, Kearney, Holdrege, Minden, Franklin; the Sheriff’s Departments in Adams County, Hall County, Buffalo County, Phelps County, Kearney County, Franklin County; and the Nebraska State Patrol. CANDO receives funding through the Nebraska Crime Commission and the member agencies.

Over the course of the last 15 months, the CANDO Drug Task Force has been actively investigating Drug Offenses in the Hastings area involving the below named individuals as well as other suspected offenders:

#1) Bethel E. Winters age 68 of 511 West 6th Street #1 Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for Possessing a Legend Drug (Class 3 Misd.).

#2) Glenn D. Brown Jr. age 44 of 511 West 6th Street #1 Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony).

#3) Benjamin R. Spicknall age 19 of 750 N. Minnesota Avenue Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony X 2).

#4) James W. Woodard Jr. age 27 of 416 N. St. Joseph Avenue #208 Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony X 2).

#5) Dylan C. Freeburg age 18 of 1210 East 6th Street Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony).

#6) Jonathan M. Anaya age 42 of 416 South Kansas Avenue #2 Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony).

#7) Kyle R. Kloke age 19 of 1214 East 6th Street Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for four counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance and one count of Aiding and Abetting a Class 3 Felony (Class 3 Felony X 5).

#8) Aaron M. Sullivan age 19 of 1139 West 6th Street Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for two counts of Delivery of an Exceptionally Hazardous Drug (Class 2 Felony X 2).

#9) Michael W. Bennett age 19 of 316 North Jefferson Avenue Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for four counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony X 4).

#10) Lance M. Wolfe age 25 of 2313 West 7th Street Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for Aiding and Abetting a Class 3 Felony (Class 3 Felony).

#11) Krieg M. Ready age 19 of 1131 North Baltimore Avenue Hastings, Nebraska was arrested on a warrant for two counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Class 3 Felony X 2).

At one arrest location there was a 34 year old male, Edward Petty, of 800 S. Denver Avenue Hastings, Nebraska who was arrested for Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

During these arrests various drugs and paraphernalia were seized.

There was one search warrant that was served at 914 S. Hastings Avenue #1 Hastings, Nebraska. During this search warrant illegal drugs, paraphernalia, and other items were seized.

Officials say this investigation continues and additional arrests are anticipated.