Six people arrested on drug charges in Stanton County

STANTON, Neb. -- Six people were arrested on drug charges after a search warrant was executed at a home in northeast Nebraska.

The Stanton County Sheriff's Office searched a home on Hickory Street in Stanton on Tuesday. Five people were initially arrested on drug charges after authorities reportedly located methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A sixth person was arrested after he was located and a search warrant was executed on his vehicle.

Sheriff Mike Unger said the warrant was initially served in connection to a spate of catalytic converter thefts in Stanton over the past weekend and theft of fuel from two vehicles by drilling and damaging the gas tanks.

Among those arrested were 28-year-old Seth Gatewood, 33-year-old Christian Sidzyik of Stanton, 29-year-old Darion Hanson of Stanton, 25-year-old Natasha Vanness-Hauf of Stanton, 29-year-old Dylan Bolte of Stanton and 43-year-old Jeremy Dewitt. Neither Gatewood nor Dewitt had any known address.

All six suspects were booked at the Sheriff’s office and are scheduled to appear in court in July.

Unger said the thefts of catalytic converters has become a major theft problem across the Midwest. He said law enforcement is working with metal vendors in attempts to thwart the thefts that cause significant damage and cost to vehicles.